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Indians win 19th consecutive game

The Associated Press

CLEVELAND — One more day. One more game. One more win.

The Cleveland Indians are ripping off victories like few teams before them — and they’re not finished.

The defending American League champions became the sixth major league team to put together a winning streak of at least 19 games Monday by blowing out the Detroit Tigers 11-0.

Francisco Lindor tripled home three runs in the second inning for the Indians, whose winning streak is the third-longest since 1947.

“Surprised? I don’t want to say I’m surprised,” said Lindor, who is batting .338 during the streak. “We haven’t really paid attention to it. We’re just enjoying the ride and trying to focus on what we have in front of our feet. Today is in the past already. We focus on what we have tomorrow and we’ll see what happens.”

The Indians’ streak is the longest since the 2002 Oakland Athletics won 20 in a row.

The other teams to win at least 19 games in a row are the 1906 Chicago White Sox (19), 1947 New York Yankees (19), 1935 Chicago Cubs (21) and 1916 New York Giants (26). The Giants’ run is in the books as the major league mark, though it included a tie.

Indians manager Terry Francona refuses to make too much of the streak.

“I just don’t feel like going there,” he said. “I think it sends the wrong message. I think our message is always consistent, that, ‘Hey, show up and try to outplay them today.’ “

The Indians have outscored opponents 132-32 during the winning streak, which includes six shutouts, and trailed in only four of 171 innings.

“In the whole picture they’re the best team in baseball,” said Tigers manager Brad Ausmus.

Carlos Carrasco (15-6) struck out nine batters in six innings, Lindor finished with four RBIs and Jose Ramirez hit a two-run homer as Cleveland lowered its magic number to clinch the AL Central to six.

Myles Jaye (0-1) permitted seven runs in 3 2/3 innings.

Ramirez left the game with a bruised forearm in the sixth inning. He was struck by the ball after Warwick Sau­pold’s inside pitch hit Ra­mirez’s bat. The Indians announced that Ramirez was removed for precautionary reasons.

Ramirez is batting .308 with 26 homers and 73 RBIs. His 47 doubles and 79 extra-base hits are both best in the AL.

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