As I watched the Cleveland Browns do their thing Sunday, I had two sentiments. One is that I’m glad they didn’t get blown out, and the other is that playing the Pittsburgh Steelers in game one is a horrible way to start to the season.
But the Browns did go undefeated in preseason, which hasn’t been done in 31 years, so I’m excited to see the rest of the season unfold.
The next day, my sights shifted while visiting my dad at work. As I was discussing with a few wonderful people about what to write my column on, an anonymous source that we will name David says, “Hey, the Indians are on a 19-game winning streak. You could write about that.”
Well David, you, sir, are a genius because that is a great idea, and I owe you a milkshake at Sara’s for it. However, now the Indians have won their last 20 games, tying the American League record.
The Tribe is currently 89-56 overall and sits at the top of the American League Central Division. Trailing behind Cleveland are the Minnesota Twins with a record of 74-69.
The Indians earned their 20th consecutive win Tuesday night with an 2-0 shutout of the Detroit Tigers at Progressive Field. Cleveland rested on the dominant performance of pitching ace Corey Kluber (16-4).
Kluber went the full nine innings, gave up five hits and rung up eight Detroit Tigers at the dish.
At the dish, the Indians had two runs on nine hits, one RBI, four walks and seven strikeouts.
Mr. Smile, Francisco Lindor, had the only home run of the night.
Lindor set the tone early in the first with no one on and no one out as he laced one over the wall for a solo home run, and the only RBI of the night, off starting Detroit pitcher Matthew Boyd (5-9).
Detroit rifled through four pitchers. Boyd started the game and lasted five innings and was relieved by Blaine Hardy for one out. Then Drew VerHagen came in for 1.2 innings and the night was closed by Daniel Stumpf.
On offense, the Tigers had zero runs, five hits and eight strikeouts in their nine trips to the plate.
It’s great to see the Indians performing like they have been after losing in the 2016 World Series. I just hope to see the Tribe take another shot at the title again this year.
Like anything, though, you have to take it step-by-step, game-by-game. If they keep up the solid pitching and stay smart at the plate, I would think they should see nothing but success.
Thanks again to David and everyone for the help with my column and best of the luck to the Tribe as they go in search of the American League record for consecutive wins at 21 when they take on Detroit at 12:10 p.m. Wednesday.
BRANDON JACES
