The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Tribe wins 17th straight over Orioles, 4-2
Indians beat Orioles, extend franchise-record winning streak to 17
Francisco Lindor homered and Allen finished off another impressive performance for Cleveland’s bullpen.
The crowd of 30,459 stood and cheered as Cody Allen fanned Trey Mancini for the final out.
Make it 17 in a row for the Indians.
Francisco Lindor homered and Allen finished off another impressive performance for Cleveland’s bullpen, helping the Indians beat the Orioles, 4-2, on Sept. 9 for their 17th straight victory.
“It’s one of those crazy things where you’re just playing good
baseball,” said Allen, who earned his 25th save. “We’re not really thinking about it as much as you guys are.”
Cleveland’s franchise-record streak is the longest in the majors since Oakland won 20 straight in 2002. The longest streak in baseball history belongs to the New York Giants, who had a 26-game run in 1916, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The Giants’ streak included a tie, which doesn’t count as a game in baseball.
Jay Bruce’s fourth-inning single put the Indians ahead to stay, and Josh Tomlin (9-9) pitched into the sixth to win his fifth consecutive decision.
“It’s kind of weird, but it’s also a lot of fun,” he said.
The Indians haven’t lost since Aug. 23.
They have outscored their opponents, 118-30, during the streak, but their latest win was a close one.
The Orioles jumped in front on Mancini’s infield hit in the first. It was the first time since Cleveland’s last loss that the Indians didn’t score first.
Tomlin was pulled after Tim Beckham’s 20th homer leading off the sixth. Five relievers then combined for four innings of one-hit ball.
“They’re a heck of a team, man,” Beckham said. “They have everything they need to win ballgames. You just give it your all and don’t waste any at-bats because you can’t afford to.”
Baltimore rookie Gabriel Ynoa (1-1), making his first start of the season, allowed three runs in 4 2/3 innings. The Orioles were three games out in the wild-card race entering play.
Giovanny Urshela’s third-inning double tied it at 1. Carlos Santana scored on Bruce’s single past a drawn-in infield,
and then added an RBI double in the fifth.
Lindor hit his 28th homer in the seventh.
The Indians went 11-0 on a road trip that ended Sept. 7. Cleveland extended the streak with a 5-0 win Sept. 10 in the opener of a 10-game homestand.
Rolling along
Cleveland slugger Edwin Encarnacion singled in the seventh and has reached base via a hit or walk in 32 consecutive games.
Trainer’s room
INDIANS » 2B Jose Ramirez (sore wrist) missed his third straight game. He hit seven homers and drove in nine runs during the team’s unbeaten road trip.
Up next
Baltimore right-hander Jeremy Hellickson makes his eighth start since being acquired from Philadelphia on July 28. He is 2-3 with a 6.87 ERA with the Orioles. Cleveland right-hander Trevor Bauer seeks to extend his career-long winning streak to nine games. He is 0-3 with a 6.75 ERA in four career starts against Baltimore.