Tip Your Cap To The Cleveland Indians

15 Sep, 2017

Kansas City has long been a thorn in the Tribe’s side, so it seemed fitting that it would be the Royals to finally end The Streak.

With a 4-3 victory on Friday night, the Royals halted the Indians’ AL-record run of 22 consecutive wins. Lorenzo Cain, Brandon Moss and Alcides Escobar accounted for enough offense and Mike Minor recorded his first career save to hand the Tribe its first loss since Aug. 23. It also ended the Indians’ pursuit of the 1916 New York Giants’ MLB-record 26-game winning streak.

“We’re all competitors,” Royals manager Ned Yost said. “You don’t want to lose, streak or no streak. What they did over there is amazing. Utterly amazing. Twenty-two? It’s almost unfathomable to me that you can go three weeks without losing. Tremendous accomplishment.”

Following the final out, the crowd rose to its feet and offered the Indians a rousing standing ovation. Manager Terry Francona emerged from the dugout, alongside the entire coaching staff and players, clapped his hands, waved, and then doffed his cap to the fans.

“They’ve been so supportive,” Francona said. “It’s just been pretty incredible how they’ve reacted and we just wanted to show our appreciation, because we don’t take it for granted.”

Despite the loss, the Indians’ magic number to clinch the division is two following the Twins’ 4-3 loss to the Blue Jays on Friday. Cleveland dropped 4 1/2 back of the Dodgers for baseball’s best record. As for the Royals, they moved to four games behind Minnesota in the race for the AL’s second Wild Card.

The Indians have insisted throughout this incredible and dominant stretch that they were not focusing on the streak. Well, they can now concentrate again on the bigger picture, which includes wrapping up a second straight AL Central championship and trying to return to and win the World Series.

MLB

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