Mark of excellence: 21 for Indians
Cleveland defeats Detroit to break the American League record for consecutive victories.
Making history virtually every time they take the field, the Cleveland Indians beat the Detroit Tigers 5-3 on Wednesday for their 21st consecutive victory, setting an American League record and joining two other teams in the last 101 years to win that many games in a row.
Jay Bruce hit a three-run home run against Buck Farmer (4-3) and Mike Clevinger (10-5) won his fourth consecutive start to help the Indians match the 1935 Chicago Cubs for the secondlongest streak since 1900. The run has put Cleveland within five victories of catching the 1916 New York Giants, who were unbeaten for 26 games in a row but whose century-old mark includes a tie.
With 29,346 spectators standing and stomping in Progressive Field, Cody Allen retired Ian Kinsler for the final out and his 27th save.
“I think they’re enjoying themselves,” manager Terry Francona said as clubhouse music boomed in the background. “They should. I think what’s kind of cool about our game is when you do things, and you do them the right way, I think it means more. Our guys are playing the game to win, the right way.”
Cleveland’s starters are 19-0 with a 1.70 earned-run average during the streak, and the Indians have outscored opponents 139-35 and trailed in only four of 189 innings.
The Indians have hit more home runs (40) than the runs given up by their pitchers.
On Tuesday, the Indians tied the league mark of 20 consecutive victories set by the 2002 Oakland Athletics.
Shortly after the Indians set the record, LeBron James of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers posted a video to congratulate the team.
“There’s no way I can let another day go by without shouting out the home team Cleveland Indians, 21-game winning streak,” James said. “What ya’ll are doing right now, keep it going.”
Etc.
The Marlins’ three-game series against the Brewers Friday through Sunday will be moved from Miami to Milwaukee because of Florida’s recovery from Hurricane Irma . ... The Athletics have picked land near Oakland’s Lake Merritt as the site for a privately financed ballpark. The A’s and the Peralta Community College District, which owns the 13-acre site, will begin negotiations.