Kluber’s Massacre Helps Tribe Take Series

Sep 21, 2014; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber (28) pitches in the eighth inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The Cleveland Indians win 7-2. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Tribe Ace K’s 14 For Second Straight Game, Indians Win 7-2

Corey Kluber has been utterly filthy this season, and is making a strong case for the AL Cy Young award.  His second consecutive outing with 14 strikeouts was plenty enough to win his fourth straight start and help the Indians to their second straight victory.  At a time when every victory counts, Kluber zeroed in and helped the Tribe keep their place in the wild card race.

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Michael Brantley‘s hot streak continued as he collected his 191st, 192nd and 193rd hits of the season, including an RBI double to give the Indians the lead in the top of the third.  In the top of the fifth, the Twins gift-wrapped three more runs for the Tribe on two errors and a balk.

The Positives

The top third of the order had eight hits on the night to go with four RBI and five runs scored.  Michael Bourn, Jose Ramirez and Michael Brantley really did their part to power the Tribe’s offense.  Carlos Santana and Jason Kipnis also collected a pair of hits each.  Nick Hagadone pitched a scoreless inning, and obviously Kluber was a star.

The Negatives

Gomes failed to follow up his fantastic performance yesterday, going hitless and snapping his modest streak.  There wasn’t much to dislike about this game, though.

Check It Out
-No pitcher in baseball has struck out 14 hitters in back to back games since Randy Johnson in 2004
-Kluber’s 258 strikeouts this season put him in the top ten Indians of all time in that category.
-Brantley is batting over .425 during his 12-game hitting streak.