Kluber’s gem spices up celebration

CLEVELAND — The Indians clinched the American League Central title late Saturday night when the Minnesota Twins lost to the Toronto Blue Jays at Target Field.

It meant they were going to pop champagne corks no matter what the outcome of their game on Sunday against the Kansas City Royals at Progressive Field.

Well, it appears cold champagne in the eyes stings less after a win than a loss.

The Indians, behind Corey Kluber's pitching and a two-run homer by Edwin Encarnacion, beat the Royals 3-2. They have won 24 of their past 25 games.

creative — ahem — storytelling.

After putting in a full day’s work at Progressive Field on Sunday, a job that included dodging champagne and Budweiser showers as Cleveland players celebrated their second consecutive American League Central Division title — they actually clinched Saturday night when Minnesota lost to Toronto, but the clubhouse party did not begin until after Sunday’s 3-2 win against Kansas City — I sought out my two buddies and bent their ears as they bent their elbows.

When dealing with these rascals, one must always remember that they are like the two old coots from the Muppets who opine from the balcony. In other words, filter.

Anyway, my chums are big Corey Kluber fans. And why not? Kluber once was a nobody, a fourth-round draft pick of the San Diego Padres who failed to even show up as a top prospect on most scouting lists.

“It was, ‘We like this guy, but he’s not even in our (ratings) book,’ ” Indians general manager Mike Chernoff said Sunday, recalling the scouting department’s dossier on Kluber as the Tribe put together the trade that brought Kluber from San Diego in July of 2010. “We saw ingredients, saw the potential, but no one could have predicted what would have happened from there.”

What happened? Kluber blossomed into a Cy Young winner in 2014 and is the leading candidate to collect his second Cy Young this season. The 31-yearold right-hander improved to 17-4 after blanking the Royals over seven innings to stretch his consecutive scoreless streak to 22 innings.

With Corey Klubering, the Indians are positioning for another long postseason run, which is a testament to a combination of strong pitching and hitting — Cleveland leads the majors with a plus-227 run differential — as well as impeccable managing by Terry Francona, whose ability to keep things chill in the clubhouse does not go unnoticed by his superiors.

“We clinched Saturday night, but guys were not walking around celebrating before (Sunday’s game),” Indians president Chris Antonetti said. “Winning the division is important. It’s the necessary first step, but in the clubhouse they’re thinking how do we win today’s game. And that’s Tito.”

I mentioned all this to Mac and Rello, who think the Tribe is going all the way.

“This team will not go quietly into the night,” Rello announced to any barstool that would listen. “The World Series loss to Chicago continues to drive them.”

Correct. Alcoholsoaked Indians pitcher Josh Tomlin stopped spraying bubbly and beer just long enough to note that the Tribe has something to prove.

“We understand what happened last year,” Tomlin said. “The sense of (unfinished business) is strong. We’re a team with one goal in mind, which is to win the World Series.”

I relayed that quote to McGillicutty, who rattled off how the Indians are a majorleague best 46-17 since the All-Star break, own the best record in the AL (93-57) and have allowed four or fewer runs for the 24th consecutive game.

“It’s a long way to October, but this team is built to last,” Mac said.

The Indians will drink to that. Actually, they just did.