Dominant Kluber ties Tribe mark for strikeouts

CLEVELAND — Corey Kluber of June 2017 has looked much like Corey Kluber of October 2016.

Kluber has been in the midst of one of the most dominant stretches of his career, and it continued Thursday as the Indians topped the Texas Rangers 5-1 at Progressive Field.

Kluber allowed one run on three hits in eight innings to go with 12 strikeouts. It was the fourth consecutive start in which he’s reached at least 10 strikeouts, tying a franchise record Bob Feller set over the 1938-39 seasons. Kluber’s 12th and final strikeout on Thursday gave

him 1,041 for his career, tying Luis Tiant for 10th place on the Indians’ alltime list.

Kluber (7-2) was activated from the 10-day disabled list on June 1 after dealing with a strained lower back for most of the season. Since that time, he has posted a 1.29 ERA and struck out 64 batters in 43 innings over six starts, the most strikeouts in the majors in June.

“You knew he’d be

shooting out of a cannon when he got back,” second baseman Jason Kipnis said. “He’s been exactly who we’ve needed him to be when he got back.”

The Rangers took an early lead when Nomar Mazara belted a solo home run to right field with two outs in the first inning. After that, the they totaled just two hits off Kluber over the next 7 innings.

“He’s tremendous,” Indians manager Terry Francona said of Kluber. “The only thing he gave up was an 0-and-2

breaking ball to a really good hitter, and he kept his hands back just enough and whacked it. We’ve seen it before when he gets on a roll. Man, he seems like he’s right there.”

The Indians took a 2-1 lead in the third and tacked on three more runs in the sixth. Francisco Lindor brought home a run with a groundout to score Yan Gomes, who singled to open the third inning.

Bradley Zimmer effectively created a run with his speed, reaching base on an infield single, advancing to second on a wild pitch, going to third on Lindor’s groundout and then scoring on a wild pitch using an acrobatic slide to avoid the tag by Rangers pitcher Andrew Cashner (3-7).

The Indians opened the sixth with four consecutive hits. Michael Brantley doubled and scored on Edwin Encarnacion’s brokenbat single. After Jose Ramirez doubled to put two in scoring position, Lonnie Chisenhall drove in both runners with a pinch-hit double down the right-field line.