Cleveland Indians History: Remembering The Streak (Week 4)

On August 24, 2017 the Cleveland Indians went on a tear unlike any other in baseball history. This article looks at the fourth and final week of the streak.

The Cleveland Indians made baseball history in 2017.

This post looks back at the final week of the magical winning streak.

Game 19 – Indians 11, Tigers 0

The Tribe gets the party started in the second with a Yan Gomes run-scoring single, a Frankie Lindor bases loaded triple and a Jose Ramirez sac fly. And it’s a comfortable 5-0 lead.

In the fourth, Jose Ramirez hits a two run home run. 7-0.

A run-scoring groundout in the fifth and another in the sixth. 9-0.

In the eighth, Brandon Guyer comes up with the bases loaded. Pitcher Jairo Labourt uncorks a pitch that is to home plate what Zane Gonzalez kicks are to the goal post, i.e. nowhere near.

(Yeah, I’m still salty about that).

Anyway, wild pitch, run scores, and sac fly for the 11th run.

Player of the Game: Carlos Carrasco. Six shutout innings and nine strikeouts.

Indians have now hit 36 home runs in the streak. Opponents have scored a total of 32 runs.

Game 20 – Tied with Oakland!

In 2002 the Oakland A’s went on a 20-game tear. It was the first time in almost 80 years a team won 20 in a row (1936 Cubs – boo). In fact it was the first time in almost 50 years that a team won more than 18 games (1953 Yankees – double boo).

This kind of streak just doesn’t happen in the MLB. You don’t have teams like the Golden State Warriors becoming the Harlem Globetrotters and loading up against Sacramento for streaks. This is the MLB baby. And 20 in a row is rare air.

And on Tuesday, September 12, 2017 the Cleveland Indians joined the rare air.

The opponent was the Detroit Tigers – who were a little Sacramento-like now that I think about it.  Well, 60-84 coming into the game.

Corey Kluber took the mound for the Indians. This allowed the Tigers to match their run total from the prior game. Frankie led off the game with a home run. The Indians scored another run along the way. Corey went the distance, striking out eight.

Indians 2, Tigers 0.

Player of the Game: Corey Kluber.

Home runs: 37. Opponents runs: 32.

Game 21 – We now have the longest streak in AL history

And more importantly, with one more win, we will have a longer streak than the 1936 Cubs.

The Tigers score one off Mike Clevinger in the first. Jay Bruce responds with a three-run shut off Buck Farmer in the bottom of the first. The Indians never trail. Robbie Perez joins the HR parade again with a solo shot later.

Indians 5, Tigers 3.

Player of the Game: Jay Bruce. He hit a ton when he first came over, and of course he had a huge home run in the playoffs. But this was his first big game in the streak.

Home runs: 39 Opponents runs: 35.

Game 22 – Let’s go right to the bottom of the ninth

Erik Gonzalez on first. Two outs. Two strikes on Frankie Lindor. Indians trail 2-1. Down to the last strike.

Lindor with a double. Tie game.

10th inning we have a double by Jose Ramirez, walk to Edwin and a double by Jay Bruce. Indians win 3-2.

Player of the game: Frankie Lindor. He stole victory from the jaws of defeCoat.

Final total for the streak: Indians: 39 home runs. Opponents runs: 37.

The streak ended at 22. The next night Frankie came up in the same situation, Indians down by one, two outs and two strikes. This time he struck out.

Coming up next – what happened next, and where the Indians streak really belongs in baseball history.