Sweet 16: Indians roll to 16th straight, over Orioles

CLEVELAND » On the road or on their home turf, the Cleveland Indians won’t lose.

Their winning streak — now at a sweet 16 — rolls on.

Edwin Encarnacion hit a three-run homer in the first inning and the Indians won their 16th straight, extending the best streak in franchise history — and the longest in the majors in 15 years — by beating the Baltimore Orioles 5-0 Friday night.

Encarnacion’s shot to straightaway center easily cleared the wall and landed in some trees next to Heritage Park, the team’s hallowed area where past Cleveland stars and teams are immortalized.

These 2017 Indians are making a case for their inclusion.

“We’re having a lot of fun here,” said Mike Clevinger (9-5), who allowed just three hits in six innings.

Cleveland’s string is the longest in the majors since the Oakland Athletics won 20 straight in 2002. The Indians, who have only trailed for two of 144 innings during the streak, are now five wins from matching the longest winning streak in major league history, 21 by the 1935 Chicago Cubs.

The 1916 New York Giants had a string of 26 wins, but that run included a tie. RANGERS 11, YANKEES 5 » Martin Perez won his seventh straight start after playoff-hopeful Texas Rangers rallied from an early four-run deficit and beat AL wild card-leading New York. TWINS 8, ROYALS 5 » Eddie Rosario homered and drove in four runs, helping Minnesota beat Kansas City. RED SOX 9, RAYS 3 » Drew Pomeranz did not allow a hit until the fifth inning and gave up two runs over six, Mookie Betts hit a threerun home run and Boston routed Tampa Bay. METS 5, REDS 1 » Jose Reyes homered twice, Seth Lugo pitched six shutout innings and New York beat tCincinnati for its third straight win.

Travis Taijeron got the Mets started when the 28-year-old rookie led off the second with his first major league home run. New York, which leads the National League in homers, has won 17 of its last 19 games against the Reds — including eight straight at Citi Field.