Indians 2, Tigers 0 - Boyd, Tigers can’t stop history

Matthew Boyd pitched arguably his best game of the year, and possibly his career, but unfortunately a guy named Corey Kluber was on the mound for the Indians and there is no margin for error when he is on his game. In the end the Cleveland Indians would make history as they tied the record for most consecutive wins in the American League at 20 straight games.

That one hiccup would come on the first batter of the game for the Tribe. In an eight pitch battle, Francisco Lindor would hit a leadoff home run to put the Indians on top right out of the gate. Boyd would shake the early damage off as he went toe to toe with the best the Indians could offer, working in and out of various levels of trouble and pitch counts to keep the Tigers in the game as long as he could. In the end he would only be able to muster five innings due to repeated batters extending the at bat and working him. To his credit he battled and didn’t give in and kept the Indians hitters off balance the majority of the night. In the end he would last just five innings and give up just one run on six hits with one walk and five strikeouts on 115 pitches.

The Tigers bullpen would cough up a run in the sixth on a passed ball from Bryan Holiday and Drew VerHagen, but otherwise hold the Indians silent over the rest of the night.

Meanwhile, much to the frustration of the Tigers, Corey Kluber was on his best game, looking like his Cy Young self of three years ago. The Cleveland ace would pitch a complete game shutout on just four hits and eight strikeouts. The only big damage the Tigers would do would come on a game leading double from Kinsler and a two out double from Castellanos in the sixth. But that is as good as the Tigers could do on a historical night in Cleveland. The Indians would win the game, their 20th overall, and tie the 2002 Oakland Athletics for most consecutive wins in American League history.

ROARS

Matthew Boyd: The young lefty pitched arguably his best game since returning to the majors. After a leadoff home run to Lindor he battled with Indians hitters the rest of the night, grinding out five innings of one run, six strikeout ball on 115 pitches.

HISSES Tip of the Cap

Its hard to give a hiss to the Tigers offense for getting shutdown by Kluber. His shutout was his 3rd this year. This was a legitimate tip your cap night.

STATS and INFO

The Indians will try for the AL record in consecutive wins and tie the major league record in wins tomorrow.

The Tribe are just three wins behind tying the Dodgers for best record in the majors.

Meanshile the Tigers maintain their grip on the fourth overall draft spot at two games over the Cincinnati Reds and sit just three games behind the White Sox and Giants for second and third pick.