WASHINGTON: The Cleveland Indians stretched their historic winning streak to 22 straight games on Thursday with a dramatic 3-2, 10-inning triumph over the Kansas City Royals.
Jay Bruce hit a run-scoring double in the 10th as the Indians stretched their streak, already the longest in the history of the American League.
They surpassed the 21-game streak produced by the National League’s Chicago Cubs in 1935.
With five more wins they would surpass the 26-game win streak of the 1916 New York Giants, considered the longest ever in the Major Leagues despite the fact that the Giants’ run actually included one tie game which wasn’t counted toward official statistics.
“We’re in uncharted territory, and that’s an understatement,” Bruce said after the victory before a raucous crowd in Cleveland.
Thursday’s victory was the first walk-off win for the Indians in the streak, in which they have outscored their opponents 142-37.
The Indians trailed 2-1 and were down to their last strike in the bottom of the ninth when Francisco Lindor smacked a pitch from Kelvin Herrera to deep left field.
The ball hit the outfield wall, eluding Royals outfielder Alex Gordon, which allowed pinch-runner Erik Gonzalez to score from first base and tie the game.
After Cleveland closer Cody Allen pitched a scoreless top of the 10th, Jose Ramirez led off the bottom of the 10th with a hustling double to center field — barely beating the tag at second base.
Edwin Encarnacion drew a walk before Bruce delivered the game-winning double.
“This team has no quit whatsoever. We play every out,” Cleveland pitcher Josh Tomlin said.
Indians manager Terry Francona added: “That was a fun game to play. A great atmosphere. It felt like a playoff game.”
The Indians are 15-0 in September, which ties the major league record for most consecutive wins to open a month.
The Minnesota Twins went 15-0 to start June of 1991, and the Kansas City Royals did it in September 1977.
For the second straight game — and just the third time in the streak — the Indians didn’t score first, Kansas City going up 1-0 in the second inning when Mike Moustakas grounded into a double play that was enough to score Eric Hosmer from third base.
Cleveland answered with a run in the third, but the Royals regained the lead with a run in the sixth.
For a moment, it looked like the Royals would make that lead stand up.
But in the bottom of the ninth, Herrera surrendered a single to Indians pinch-hitter Tyler Naquin. Francisco Mejia, pinch-hitting for Yan Gomes, grounded into a forceout at second and was replaced by pinch-runner Gonzalez.
Lindor then came through on a 2-2 pitch that Royals manager Ned Yost admitted wasn’t what Herrera had in mind.
“Herrera was trying to go down and away, but it was up and more over the plate,” Yost said. “(Lindor) is a good hitter, and he laced it that way.”
Francona said Lindor “certainly doesn’t seem to shrink from those situations.”
“We had a lot of opportunities to score (earlier), but we couldn’t cash in. But when you’re at home, you’re a hit away.”