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CLEVELAND -- Corey Kluber pitched a five-hitter, and Francisco Lindor hit his 30th home run as the Cleveland Indians tied the American League record with their 20th straight victory, a 2-0 decision over the Detroit Tigers on Tuesday night at Progressive Field. Cleveland tied the AL mark set by the 2002 Oakland Athletics. The only longer streaks are 21 games by the 1935 Chicago Cubs and 26 by the 1916 New York Giants, although there was a tie game during New York's streak.
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The Indians have outscored their opponents 134-32 during their run.
Kluber (16-4) struck out eight and did not walk a batter.
The shutout was the Indians' seventh during their winning streak and their major-league-leading 19th for the season overall.
Tigers starter Matthew Boyd (5-10) threw 116 pitches in five innings but managed to hold the Indians to one run and six hits with five strikeouts and one walk.
Leading 1-0 and having not cashed in on a couple rallies earlier in the game, the Indians pushed across a run in the sixth inning.
Blaine Hardy, in relief of Boyd, started the sixth inning and was greeted by a double by Carlos Santana into the left-center-field gap. Santana moved to third on a groundout by Jay Bruce.
Drew VerHagen replaced Hardy and struck out Yandy Diaz on three pitches for the second out. Francisco Mejia, pinch-hitting for Brandon Guyer, was intentionally walked.
With Yan Gomes at the plate, VerHagen's wild pitch bounced far enough from the plate to allow Santana to score from third, giving Cleveland a 2-0 lead.
Lindor led off the bottom of the first inning by hitting a 2-2 pitch from Boyd over the left field wall for his 30th home run. It was Lindor's third home run in the past four games and fourth in his past six contests.
Cleveland had great scoring opportunities in the second and third innings, but Boyd pitched out of both jams.
In the second inning, Boyd gave up three consecutive one-out singles to load the bases. However, Boyd struck out Gomes and got Lindor to pop out to end the inning.
Austin Jackson and Jose Ramirez led off the Cleveland third with singles. With runners at first and second and no outs, Boyd struck out Edwin Encarnacion and Santana. Bruce drew a walk to again load the bases, but Diaz flied out to end the third.
NOTES: Indians manager Terry Francona said LHP Andrew Miller (right knee tendinitis) will either be activated off the disabled list Thursday or pitch a second simulated game on that day. ... Indians OF Bradley Zimmer had surgery Tuesday in New York to repair a broken bone in his left hand. A plate and nine screws were used to repair the fracture. Zimmer is estimated to return to full baseball activity in six to eight weeks. ... 2B Jason Kipnis (hamstring) could come off the DL and make his debut in center field Sunday, although Indians trainers said they think Sept. 19 might be a better date. Kipnis is a potential replacement for Zimmer in center field. ... Tigers RHP Michael Fulmer had ulnar nerve transposition surgery on his right elbow Tuesday in Pensacola, Fla. The operation was performed by Dr. James Andrews. ... Tigers DH Victor Martinez had a heart ablation surgery Monday.
