Kluber wins 19th, strikes out 11 in Tribe win

Corey Kluber isn’t letting up as the regular season winds down. Kluber struck out 11 in eight innings to record his career-high 19th win as the Indians beat the White Sox, 5-3.

Although the Indians have locked up their third straight AL Central title, Kluber’s goal is simple: Go into the postseason pitching as well as possible.

“I don’t want to go out there and think like it’s spring training because we’ve already clinched,” he said. “The best way to stay locked in is to keep your foot on the gas, so to speak, and stay in that competitive mind frame.”

Kluber (19-7), who allowed three runs, topped 200 strikeouts for the fifth straight season. Kluber won 18 games in three of the previous four seasons, including his two AL Cy Young Award-winning years, 2014 and 2017.

“Vintage Kluber,” White hit on the left arm by Carlos Rodon’s pitch in the fifth inning and walked from the plate in obvious pain. Ramirez spoke with Manager Terry Francona and a team trainer, but stayed in the game and stole second base moments later.

“Fortunately it got him above the elbow, but it got him pretty good,” Francona said.

Jason Kipnis homered and Yandy Diaz added a two-run single when Cleveland scored three times in the fifth.

Andrew Miller struck out three in the ninth but allowed the potential tying run to reach base. With one out, Welington Castillo reached on Yan Gomes’ passed ball on strike three.

Miller struck out Yolmer Sanchez before Tim Anderson blooped a single to right. Miller then fanned Daniel Palka to end the game. The left-hander, who has been on the disabled list three times, picked up his second save and first since April 9.

“It keeps your adrenaline going,” Miller said about pitching the ninth. “You don’t want to mess it up. As much fun as I’ve ever had is closing out games. I love looking up at the scoreboard and looking up at the lineup card, trying to get through that.”

Rodon (6-6) allowed five runs in seven innings. Palka and Narvaez hit solo homers in the sixth for the White Sox.

White Sox slugger Jose Abreu will miss the series because of an infection in his right thigh. Abreu is batting .320 (16 for 50) with five homers and 12 RBI in his career against Kluber.

Melky Cabrera’s RBI double and Yan Gomes’ runscoring single gave Cleveland a 2-0 lead in the second.

Josh Donaldson, who was acquired from Toronto on Aug. 31, drew a leadoff walk and scored from first on Cabrera’s hit. Donaldson also walked in the fourth, but was 0-for-2 and is batting .133 (2 for 15) in five games with Cleveland.