The Indians get another shutout as they win their 20th straight game.
CLEVELAND — Francisco Lindor skipped through the doorway and into the Indians’ clubhouse, where the pulsating music was at an ear-splitting level.
As many of his teammates dressed quickly with another game just 14 hours away, Cleveland’s star shortstop worked the room, exchanging high-fives with anyone he could find.
It’s almost unthinkable for a team to win 20 straight games.
Usually, that only happens in the movies.
“Moneyball” has its sequel.
Tie 2002 A’s
Following a familiar script, the Indians extended their winning streak to 20 and matched the AL mark held by the 2002 Oakland Athletics, beating the Detroit Tigers 2-0 on Tuesday night.
Cleveland’sstreak,which began Aug. 24 in Boston, is tied for the majors’ secondlongest in 82 years — and the Indians show no signs of stopping.
“It’sspecial,”Lindorsaid. “As a kid, you dream about playing in front of a lot of fans and the crowd goes nuts. That’s what you want. This is for them. It’s not for us.”
Lindor homered leading off the first, and Corey Kluber (16-4) strengthened his Cy Young Award case with a four-hitter as Cleveland joinedthe2002A’s,1935Chicago Cubs (21) and 1916 New York Giants (26) as the only teams since 1900 to win at least 20 in a row.
“It’s pretty crazy,” Kluber said. “To go almost three weeks without losing a game is not something that you ever really expect.”
Kluber sealed win No. 20
— and Cleveland’s seventh shutout during the streak — by getting Miguel Cabrera on an easy grounder to third.
“For sure, it’s something special,” Lindor said. “It’s going to be there forever.”
Scaling the record books
Although they insist they’re not focused on the streak, the Indians are playing as though they don’t want it to end.
They’re now within reach of the Giants’ revered 101-year-old mark, which includes a tie that interrupted 12- and 14-game unbeaten runs. However, the Elias Sports Bureau has always regarded the Giants’ stretch as the gold standard.
Whileunderstandingthe fascination with his team’s roll, Indians manager Terry Francona has been downplaying the streak so as not to make it a distraction. He chooses his words carefully whether he’s talking to reporters, family or friends.
“I got one really good buddy, one of my best friends, but he’s notoriously bad luck,” Francona said. “Everybody kind of refers to him as like the gray cloud. He knows who he is and you talk about superstitions, I will not talk to him. He is a text only.
“Oh, yeah. He knows. It cost me one job, he’s not getting in the way again.”