Field Level Media
Sep 19, 2019
Mike Clevinger pitched six strong innings, Franmil Reyes hit a two-run homer and the host Cleveland Indians won their 17th straight game over the Detroit Tigers with a 7-0 romp on Thursday.
Clevinger (12-3) scattered seven hits and struck out six while walking only one. Yasiel Puig had two hits, two runs scored and an RBI. Puig supplied nine hits in a three-game series sweep.
Francisco Lindor contributed three hits and scored two runs as Roberto Perez added two hits and two RBIs as Cleveland (90-63) moved into a tie with Tampa Bay for the final American League wild-card spot.
The Indians' streak against the Tigers is their longest against any team since they defeated Baltimore 17 consecutive times during the 1954 season. Cleveland won the season series over the Tigers 18-1.
Daniel Norris (3-13) gave up one run in three innings and was charged with the loss. Drew VerHagen surrendered six runs and seven hits in 1 1/3 innings.
The Tigers loaded the bases in the first inning on singles by Harold Castro and Miguel Cabrera and a walk to Jeimer Candelario. Clevinger retired Jordy Mercer on a flyout to end the threat.
Cleveland scored in the bottom of the first. Lindor led off with a double, moved up on a sacrifice bunt and scored on Carlos Santana's sacrifice fly.
The Indians had two baserunners in the third but Oscar Mercado bounced into an inning-ending double play.
Cleveland extended its lead to 4-0 in the fourth off VerHagen. Santana led off with a single and scored on Puig's double. One out later, Reyes crushed a homer to left that traveled an estimated 433 feet.
After the Tigers stranded two runners in the fifth, the Indians made it 7-0 in the bottom of the inning. Lindor led off with a double and Mercado followed with an RBI single. With the bases loaded and Edwin Jackson on the mound, Perez ripped a single to knock in two more runs.
The Tigers had a runner on third with two outs in the seventh when Victor Reyes tripled but Tyler Clippard retired Castro on a flyout.
--Field Level Media