Sweet 16: Indians shut out Orioles, extend win streak
Cleveland third team in expansion era to achieve feat
CLEVELAND — On the road or on their home turf, the Cleveland Indians won’t lose.
Their winning streak — now at a sweet 16 — rolls on.
Edwin Encarnacion hit a three-run homer in the first inning as the Indians won their 16th straight, extending the best streak in franchise history — and the majors’ longest in 15 years — by beating the Baltimore Orioles 5-0 Friday.
Encarnacion’s shot to straightaway center off Wade Miley (8-12) easily cleared the wall and landed in trees next to Heritage Park, the team’s hallowed area where past Cleveland stars and teams are immortalized.
These 2017 Indians are making a case for their inclusion.
“We’re having a lot of fun here,” said Mike Clevinger (9-5), who allowed three hits in six innings.
With his third straight six-inning scoreless outing, Clevinger improved his chances to pitch in the postseason as AL Central leaders became the third team in the expansion era — since 1961 — to win 16 straight in a season, joining the 2002 Oakland Athletics and Kansas City Royals, who also won 16 in a row.
Cleveland’s string is the majors’ longest since the A’s won 20 straight in 2002. The Indians, who have trailed for only two of 144 innings during the streak, are five wins from matching the longest winning streak in major league history, 21 by the 1935 Chicago Cubs.
The 1916 New York Giants had a string of 26 wins, but that run included a tie.
Not only have the Indians not lost since Aug. 23, the defending American League champions have trailed only twice in 144 innings during the streak and have outscored opponents 114-28.
“They’re playing pretty good baseball,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “That’s a really good lineup that our guys kept off the board.”
The Orioles were the latest team to run into the Indians and managed four hits in the opener of a 10-day trip. Baltimore began the day two games back in the nineteam, wild-card scramble.
“They’re leading the league in starting pitching and relief pitching, so you know that runs are going to come at a premium,” Orioles manager Buck Showalter said. “They played good defense and pitched well. That’s a good combination.”