Cleveland Indians' Jay Bruce celebrates with Jose Ramirez (11) after hitting a three-run home run off Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Buck Farmer during the first inning in a baseball game, Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2017, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Ron Schwane)

CLEVELAND (AP) — Just a little more than a month ago, Jay Bruce was in New York sinking with the Mets as a season that began with promise and a richness of pitching was undermined by injuries.

The plunge was dramatic. So was the rise.

A trade rescued Bruce and dropped him in Cleveland, where he made history on Wednesday.

"I pretty much went from the least fun situation in baseball to the most fun," he said.

Bruce hit a three-run homer in the first inning as the Indians set the AL record with their 21st straight win, a 5-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers that pushed Cleveland closer to another division title and within reach of a 101-year mark that has come under scrutiny because of a peculiarity.

Unbeaten and nearly unchallenged for three weeks, the Indians surpassed the "Moneyball" 2002 Oakland Athletics for the league record and tied the 1935 Chicago Cubs for the second longest streak since 1900.

The only team to win more consecutive games was the 1916 New York Giants, who won 12 in a row, played a tie that was ended by rain and replayed, and then won 14 more.

Despite the tie, the Giants' streak is acknowledged as the record by Elias Sports Bureau, Major League's Baseball's statistical watchdog. The flaw in the record has perturbed some fans. Not the Indians.

"I've given that zero thought," manager Terry Francona said when asked if he regarded 21 or 26 as the record. "I promise you I've given it no thought."

That's been the attitude of his players, who have gone 21-0 with minimal celebrating. When closer Cody Allen got the final out, retiring Ian Kinsler on a sinking liner to left field, the 29,000 fans who hung on every pitch inside Progressive Field as if it was Game 7 of the World Series, erupted as flames shot from over the center-field wall and fireworks exploded overhead.

The Indians didn't mob each other or carry on as if it was a big deal. They've got more important games — and hopefully victories — ahead of them.

Cleveland's first World Series title since 1948 remains the only goal for a team built to win.

"We don't have time to worry about what happened in the past and we definitely don't have any time to worry about what's going to happen in the future," Bruce said. "We have a group of guys here, coaching staff and just a whole organization that kind of echoes that sentiment. It's something that we haven't had to deal with and there's been no pulling the reins back on people or hey, let's not get ahead of ourselves.

"Everyone comes here and gets ready to play and I think that's something that speaks volumes."

After the Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the first off Mike Clevinger (10-5), Bruce put Cleveland back on top for good with his three-run shot into the left-field bleachers. It was his 34th homer this season and fifth with the Indians, who acquired him on Aug. 9, an all-in move necessitated by All-Star Michael Brantley going on the disabled list with a serious ankle injury.

Bruce has provided protection for Cleveland slugger Edwin Encarnacion and given Francona even more depth in a lineup with no apparent holes.

"You make a mistake and he knows what to do with it," Francona said.

When he met with reporters following the Indians' historic win, Bruce wore a red T-shirt with Cleveland's controversial smiling Chief Wahoo emblazoned on the front. There were moment when Bruce's beamed just as brightly.

He'll be a free agent after the season, but any thoughts about his future are on hold as he savors being on a team expected to play deep into October.

The Indians are 30-5 since Bruce arrived, and that may not be coincidence. He joked about "some selection bias" when asked if he's changed the club's fortunes.

"In all honesty, I feel like I do add something positive to this team," he said. "This team has added something to me as well. It gives you a little boost. You come in, you're ready to play, you want to come to the ballpark, and you're coming into something that is bigger than yourself."

After the Indians matched Oakland's 15-year-old record with their 20th straight win Tuesday night, Bruce texted with Scott Hatteberg, a member of that celebrated A's team that flopped in the postseason but gained fame in film. They were briefly teammates in Cincinnati.

"I just said, 'Who would've thought?'" Bruce recalled. "And he said, 'Good luck, win another one and win a ring.'"</s>Just one month after the Dodgers appeared to be on their own record-setting pace, the Cleveland Indians are in the midst of a spectacular run that has made them the talk of baseball.

The Indians won their 20th consecutive game on Tuesday night, shutting down the Detroit Tigers 2-0 thanks to another sterling effort from ace pitcher Corey Kluber. The victory tied the American League record for consecutive victories, set by the famous "Moneyball" Oakland Athletics in 2002.

With at least a share of the AL record secure, Cleveland fans will now turn their attention to another incredible milestone: the MLB record for the longest winning streak, set by the 1916 New York Giants.

Or is it?

That team, managed by the legendary John McGraw, is credited with 26 straight wins in September, 1916.

Baseball was a fundamentally different game a century ago: the ball was dead, the spitball was legal and the players were much more likely to stay in dingy boarding houses than luxury hotels when on the road. But unlike these details, the Giants' record has stood the test of time and is still the streak to beat.

While it's true that the Giants didn't lose a game between September 7 and September 29, they didn't win all of their matchups either. On September 18, they played the Pittsburgh Pirates to a nine-inning tie.

That game would have been headed for extra innings in today's league, but that wasn't an option before the advent of stadium lights. The game counted for statistical purposes, but the tie didn't count in the standings, so history shows that the Giants won 26 straight. But the fact remains that they failed to win one of their games during that historic run.

All of this adds a new wrinkle to the Indians' place in history. Discounting streaks that included ties, the next-longest winning streak came from the 1935 Chicago Cubs, a classic team that included names like Charlie Root and Chuck Klein. That team also went streaking in September, winning 21 straight games.

If that's the true record, then the Indians are just one win away from matching one of the most incredible accomplishments in MLB history. As it is, they've already won as many consecutive games as any team has in the last 80 years, but to tie the all-time record would be a career achievement for the entire roster.

Of course, that's only if you accept the Cubs' record as the real mark to beat - Giants fans will insist that one unofficial tie doesn't negate an entire month of victories. As in the debate over the single-season home run record, both sides have valid arguments.

But whatever your stance on the issue, it will be thrilling to see if the Indians can keep it going. Their next game is set for Wednesday against Detroit.</s>CLEVELAND (AP) - The Cleveland Indians share a record with a team celebrated by Hollywood.

Following a familiar script of scoring first, playing strong defense and riding dominant pitching, the Indians extended their winning streak to 20 games and matched the AL mark held by the 2002 Oakland Athletics, beating the Detroit Tigers 2-0 on Tuesday night.

Cleveland's streak, which began on Aug. 24 in Boston, is tied for the majors' second-longest in 82 years - and the Indians show no signs of stopping.

Corey Kluber (16-4) strengthened his Cy Young Award case with a five-hitter as Cleveland joined the 2002 A's, 1935 Chicago Cubs (21) and 1916 New York Giants (26) as the only teams since 1900 to win at least 20 in a row.

This story has been corrected with Kluber throwing a five-hitter.</s>× Royals come within inches of snapping record win streak, see Indians extend it to 22 with walkoff

CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Indians added a walk-off win to a streak that has had everything.

Jay Bruce hit an RBI double in the 10th inning as the Indians rallied for their 22nd straight win to extend their AL record, beating the Kansas City Royals 3-2 on Thursday night to move within four wins of matching the 1916 New York Giants for the longest streak in major league history.

After blowouts, shutouts and oh-so-easy wins, the Indians, who tied it in the ninth on Francisco Lindor’s two-out, two-strike RBI double, went into extras for the first time to keep the longest streak in 101 years intact.

“This was probably the toughest one we’ve had,” Bruce said.

Ramirez led off the 10th with a hard hit into right-center off Brandon Maurer (2-2) that he turned into a double with a head-first slide. After Edwin Encarnacion walked, Bruce, the recent arrival who hit a three-run homer in win No. 21 on Wednesday, ripped a 2-0 pitch into the right-field corner.

As Progressive Field shook like it usually does in October, Bruce reached second base and was quickly mobbed his teammates, who doused him with ice water and talcum powder while tearing the front of his jersey.

“Nothing like it, nothing like it,” Bruce said.

These Indians aren’t stopping for anything.

Down to their last strike in the ninth, the Indians rallied to tie it at 2 off closer Kelvin Herrera, with Lindor delivering his clutch shot off the left field wall, just above the leap of four-time Gold Glove winner Alex Gordon, to score pinch-runner Erik Gonzalez from first.

As Lindor’s ball caromed off the wall and rolled slowly across the grass in left field, 30,874 fans who have watched the Indians overpower teams for the last three weeks, soon saw the AL Central leaders pull off their most dramatic win this season.

The Indians entered the day tied with the 1935 Chicago Cubs for the second-longest streak, and now only trail those ’16 Giants, who won 26 in a row — all at home.

The Giants won 12 straight, played a 1-1 tie, and then won 14 in a row. But because the tied game was replayed from the start the next day, it didn’t technically count and therefore didn’t stop New York’s streak.

Unlike many of Cleveland’s game’s over the past three weeks, this one required a little late-innings work by the Indians, who have outscored their opponents 142-37 during this unimaginable run.

With one out in the ninth, pinch-hitter Tyler Naquin singled to left off Herrera, who then got rookie Francisco Mejia to bounce into a force. But Lindor, the blossoming superstar shortstop who has been Cleveland’s best hitter throughout the streak, came through with his double.

Cody Allen (3-6) worked the 10th and it wasn’t routine as Brandon Moss led off with a shot to the wall that Naquin caught while pinned up to the bullpen fence.

On top of getting another win, the Indians also got top reliever Andrew Miller back.

The All-Star came in to a rousing ovation in the seventh, and gave up a pair of bloop singles around a strikeout before getting an inning-ending double play.

It was his first appearance since Aug. 21, when Miller’s knee tendinitis flared up during an appearance against Boston and he went on the DL for the second time. The left-hander will be brought back slowly by the Indians, who want to make sure he’s ready when the games become more meaningful in October.

Indians manager Terry Francona has been guarded in making comments about the winning streak. He didn’t want to make too much of it while his team makes another run at ending the Indians’ 68-year World Series title drought.

However, before the game he revealed that his father, Tito, an outfielder for Cleveland in the 1960s, was excited, “and he doesn’t get very excited very often, so I thought that was kind of cool.”

Francona has also enjoyed seeing Indians fans react during a run they won’t soon forget.

“You set out to win every game, that’s the objective every time you show up,” he said. “But I do think it’s kind of cool, you hear Cleveland a lot. If people are walking around with their chest out a little bit, I’m glad, because I like it here and I like the people here. So I think that’s maybe a byproduct of this. It’s not going to help you in the standings, but it’s good for Cleveland. Anything like that, I think it’s terrific.”

Cleveland has even more to be proud of now.

Royals: LHP Danny Duffy (sore elbow) threw a side session and could start Sunday’s series finale. He’s been on the disabled list since Aug. 26. Duffy is 8-8 with a 3.78 ERA in 21 starts.

Indians: All-Star OF Michael Brantley still isn’t running and the club still doesn’t have a timetable for his return. Before the game, Francona said the team’s medical staff was consulting with a doctor in Utah about Brantley’s injury, which landed him on the disabled list on Aug. 9. Brantley was having a strong comeback season after playing in just 11 games in 2016 following shoulder surgeries.

Trevor Bauer, tied for the league lead in wins, goes for his 17th and Cleveland’s 23rd in a row against Jason Vargas.</s>CLEVELAND — Making history almost every time they take the field, the Cleveland Indians won their 21st straight game on Wednesday, 5-3 over the Detroit Tigers, to set an American League record and join only two other teams in the past 101 years to win that many in a row.

Jay Bruce hit a three-run homer off Buck Farmer (4-3), and Mike Clevinger (10-5) won his consecutive straight start as the Indians matched the 1935 Chicago Cubs for the second-longest winning streak since 1900. The run has put Cleveland within five wins of catching the 1916 New York Giants, who won 26 straight without a loss but whose century-old mark includes a tie.

Roberto Perez added a homer in the seventh and four Cleveland relievers finished. Cody Allen got his 27th save, giving the Indians the league's longest streak since the AL was founded in 1901.

During the streak, which began with a 13-6 win over Boston ace Chris Sale on Aug. 23, the Indians have outscored their opponents 139-35 and trailed in only four of 189 innings. Cleveland starters are 19-0 with a 1.70 ERA, and the Indians have totalled more homers (40) than runs allowed.

Cleveland opens a four-game series Thursday night at home against Kansas City, which was outscored 20-0 during its three-day visit last month.

NEW YORK (AP) — A disappointed Jaime Garcia didn't even look at manager Joe Girardi when the pitcher was removed one out shy of qualifying for his first win with the Yankees, and New York edged Tampa Bay to take two of three games in a series moved from Florida to Citi Field because of Hurricane Irma.

Making his first appearance since Aug. 30, Garcia allowed only Kevin Kiermaier's solo homer in 4 2/3 innings. Chad Green (5-0) struck out three of his four batters and Aroldis Chapman got four outs for his 18th save in 22 chances. Chapman fanned four and earned his first save of more than three outs since Game 5 of last year's World Series for the Chicago Cubs. The Yankees won their fourth straight series.

A pro-Yankees crowd of 13,159 raised the total for the series to 49,510. Tickets were $25 each day.

Tampa Bay was heading back home after the game and returns to Tropicana Field for a five-game homestand starting Friday against Boston.</s>Cleveland beat Detroit 5-3 on Wednesday afternoon for the team's 21st straight win, breaking the American League record.

"You know everyone talks about the streak and being consumed with it," rightfielder Jay Bruce told MLB.com. "What consumes us is the daily kind of schedule and game we have to get ready for."

The major league record is 26 straight wins by the New York Giants in 1916, though there was a tie during that streak as well. To claim that record, Cleveland will have to sweep the Kansas City Royals at home before taking two games from the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif.

The Cleveland Indians are chasing a Major League Baseball record that few teams in the modern era have managed to accomplish.

The Indians beat the Detroit Tigers 2-0 Tuesday night in Cleveland to win their 20th straight game — tying the American League winning streak held by the 2002 Oakland Athletics.

Baseball fans and moviegoers alike will remember that team.

The 2011 movie Moneyball, starring Brad Pitt, told the story of how the A's used detailed statistics to assemble a roster of underappreciated, low-salaried players 15 years ago who went on to become a powerhouse team that won 20 straight games.

The A's finished first in the American League West that season with a record of 103-59.

The Indians will go for 21 straight wins when they play the Tigers Wednesday afternoon in Cleveland.

The 1935 Chicago Cubs, a National League team, currently hold that record.

Tying that record would be bittersweet. The 2016 Cubs beat the Indians 4-3 in last season's World Series. Cleveland had taken a three-games-to-one lead in the best-of-seven series.

The Indians, however, haven't let that loss define them.

Cleveland's winning streak began last month in Boston, and as the streak has continued, the team has done its best to keep it from being a distraction.

The Associated Press reports Indians Manager Terry Francona has been downplaying the streak but chooses his words carefully whether he's talking to reporters, family or friends:

If Cleveland wins later Wednesday — and they've already beaten the Tigers six times during the streak — they can challenge the record held by the 1916 New York Giants.

The Giants had an unbeaten streak of 27 games, but that included a tie. Baseball views the Giants' winning streak of 26 games as the longest in history.

Steve Hirdt, executive vice president at the Elias Sports Bureau, which is Major League Baseball's official record keeper, is asked all the time which record he would like to see broken.

He tells The Associated Press that he is "eager to see if Cleveland can topple the Giants' gigantic mark."</s>CLEVELAND (AP) – The Indians have extended their American League-record winning streak, making it 22 straight with a 3-2 comeback over the Royals. Newcomer Jay Bruce won it with a single in the bottom of the 10th, one day after smacking a three-run homer.

Jose Ramirez led off the bottom of the 10th with his 50th double of the season before Bruce came through with his biggest hit since joining Cleveland from the Mets.

The Royals were one strike from a 2-1 victory when Francisco Lindor (lihn-DOHR’) lined an opposite-field double off the wall in left field, bringing home the tying run. Alex Gordon almost made a leaping catch at the fence to end the winning streak.</s>The Cleveland Indians' scorching hot streak continued Tuesday, as they defeated the Detroit Tigers, 2-0, at Progressive Field in Cleveland.

With the win, the Indians tied the 2002 Oakland Athletics for the longest winning streak in American League history.

Before Cleveland's winning streak started on Aug. 24, the defending AL champions were 69-56, and they trailed the Houston Astros by 7.5 games for the best record in the league. The Indians have since taken over the top spot in the AL standings with an 89-56 record following Tuesday's win.

From pitching to hitting to defense, everything has been working for the Tribe over the last 20 games. The Indians tweeted out a stat prior to Tuesday's game highlighting one of the ways they have dominated the opposition:

MLB.com's Jordan Bastian offered another statistical nugget about the Indians coming into Tuesday's matchup with the Tigers:

Over their past 20 games, the Indians pitching staff has thrown seven shutouts. The latest came from ace Corey Kluber, who handled the Tigers with ease Tuesday with eight strikeouts and just five hits allowed in a complete-game victory.

Despite the good vibes in Cleveland right now, manager Terry Francona has told his team to treat each game as its own thing.

"I think our message is always consistent, that, 'Hey, show up and try to outplay them today,'" he said on Tuesday, via Bastian and Jason Beck of MLB.com. "They're doing a really good job of that. I think to be a good team, sometimes spreading out games is important and the guys have done a really good job of that."

What's even more impressive: The Indians have reeled off this win streak with All-Stars Michael Brantley and Andrew Miller and second baseman Jason Kipnis on the disabled list.

The 1916 New York Giants are credited as having the longest winning streak in MLB history at 26 games, but they had a 1-1 tie against the Pittsburgh Pirates during that run.

After the Indians tied the 2002 Athletics' win streak Tuesday, they'll look to match the 1935 Chicago Cubs for the longest winning streak since 1900 if they can defeat the Tigers on Wednesday afternoon.

The Indians will also hope to avoid the fate of the 1935 Cubs and 2002 A's, both of whom failed to win the World Series after putting together their historic streaks during the regular season.</s>The disparity between the impressiveness of the Cleveland Indians’ win streak and how impressed people are by it is, well, impressive. Not to press the point, but it just doesn’t impress upon people.

Don’t get me wrong: I haven’t heard anyone say, “21 straight wins—so what?” But winning streaks are neither as revered nor as familiar as certain individual records. While we can debate the “true” single-season home run record, most fans know Bonds hit 73, McGwire 70, Maris 61. We know Cy Young is the only pitcher with 500 wins (511, to be exact) and Nolan Ryan threw the most (seven) no-hitters.

Before this week, how many of us knew the longest win streak in MLB history? It is 26, set by the 1916 New York Giants, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Someone might try because there is a tie in the middle of that streak. In reality, rain halted a 1-1 game after nine innings. Back then, games were not “suspended” like they are today and later picked up at the point of stoppage. Instead, the two teams started from the beginning, usually the next day (as was the case with the Giants). The “tie” did not count towards the standings (but for some bizarre reason, the players’ stats did count).

To recap the Giants’ streak: They won 12 straight games, were tied in a game that couldn’t be finished because lights and tarps weren’t the norm in baseball, re-played that game the next day and won, and won 13 more in a row after that. The total: 26 straight victories. Baseball scheduling was very different back then—every game during the streak was played at the Polo Grounds, the Giants’ home field, and they won seven double-headers—but that’s the record.

In defeating the Detroit Tigers Wednesday afternoon, the Indians set the American League record for consecutive wins and tied the second-longest streak ever (the 1935 Chicago Cubs also won 21 straight). Cleveland’s win streak can now buy a beer at the ballpark. The streak matches Bob Lemon’s retired number at Progressive Field. No current Indian wears 21, but Jason Kipnis wears 22. He is one of several talented players who have sat out during the streak. He landed on the disabled the day before the streak began on August 24th. Michael Brantley (hey, he wears 23) and Andrew Miller (24!) have also been hurt throughout the run.

Even without a full complement of players, what Cleveland has done is remarkable. In baseball, winning 60 percent of your games is a tremendous accomplishment. As the saying goes, momentum is the next day’s starting pitcher, and Cleveland has used seven during the streak. They’ve shutout the opposition seven times and experienced far more blowouts than close games, outscoring opponents 139-35.

And so, for three weeks, Cleveland’s number in the loss column has held steady at 56. That, of course, matches Joe DiMaggio’s record hit streak. That figure is etched in our brains, but winning streaks don’t seem to stick. I’m a Mets fan, and I had to look up their longest streak, remembering it’s 11, a mark they reached just two years ago.

With teams, we think of championships. This run will be a cherished memory for Cleveland fans, but somewhat bittersweet if they are bounced in the first round of the playoffs like the 2002 Oakland Athletics, who won 20 straight. The 1916 Giants finished fourth in the eight-team National League and therefore didn’t qualify for the World Series. The ’35 Cubs went 101-53 but lost in the World Series.

Meanwhile, the iconic 1927 Yankees never put together a double-digit win streak (their franchise record is 19, set in ’47). Here are other historically great teams’ longest streaks: 1907 Cubs (7), 1909 Pirates (16), 1929 Athletics (11), 1970 Orioles (11), 1975 Reds (10).

In baseball, the players who set records don’t need rings to be remembered. The teams without trophies are often forgotten.

Andrew Kahn is a regular contributor to CBS Local. He writes about baseball and other sports at andrewjkahn.com and you can find his Scoop and Score podcast on iTunes. Email him at andrewjkahn@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter at @AndrewKahn</s>CLEVELAND (AP) — The Cleveland Indians share a record with a team celebrated by Hollywood.

Following a familiar script of scoring first, playing strong defense and riding dominant pitching, the Indians extended their winning streak to 20 games and matched the AL mark held by the 2002 Oakland Athletics, beating the Detroit Tigers 2-0 on Tuesday night.

Cleveland’s streak, which began on Aug. 24 in Boston, is tied for the majors’ second-longest in 82 years — and the Indians show no signs of stopping.

Corey Kluber (16-4) strengthened his Cy Young Award case with a four-hitter as Cleveland joined the 2002 A’s, 1935 Chicago Cubs (21) and 1916 New York Giants (26) as the only teams to win at least 20 in a row.
In baseball, the Cleveland Indians break the Major League Baseball record for longest winning streak with 22 wins in a row. The 1935 Chicago Cubs previously held the record with 21.