ATLANTA — Corey Kluber insists no one in the Cleveland clubhouse is talking about the Indians’ longest winning streak in 34 years.
Outside those walls, however, the Indians are big news as the hottest team in the majors.
Carlos Santana hit a tie-breaking single in Cleveland’s three-run ninth inning, Kluber allowed only three hits in eight innings and the Indians beat the Atlanta Braves 5-3 on Tuesday night for their 11th straight win.
The winning streak is Cleveland’s longest since 11 straight from May 23-June 4, 1982 and also the longest in the majors this season.
The unflappable Kluber didn’t sound impressed.
“No one is really talking about the winning streak,” Kluber said. “We realize we are playing well right now. We’re just trying to keep that going. Ultimately an 11-game game winning streak doesn’t mean much if you don’t continue to build the momentum that you have.”
The Indians won 12 straight in 1922. The longest streaks in franchise history were 13 games in 1942 and 1951.
Kluber (8-7) didn’t allow a hit through five innings. The right-hander allowed two runs on three hits and one walk with seven strikeouts.
Arodys Vizcaino (1-3) walked Tyler Naquin to open the ninth and then walked Juan Uribe on four pitches. With pinch-runner Rajai Davis at first base, and one out, Santana’s single to right field drove in Naquin.
Braves shortstop Erick Aybar mishandled Francisco Lindor’s grounder for an error, allowing Davis to score. Jose Ramirez added a run-scoring single up the middle.
TIGERS 7, MARLINS 5: Miguel Cabrera’s three-run homer highlighted a seven-run fifth inning for host Detroit.
Jose Iglesias and Nick Castellanos also homered during Detroit’s big inning, which came after Adam Conley (4-5) had been dominant through four. Mike Pelfrey (2-7) allowed four runs and 12 hits in 5 1/3 innings.
CARDINALS 8, ROYALS 4: Just about everybody in the lineup drove in a run, Michael Wacha was good enough on the mound and visiting St. Louis held off Kansas City.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
RANGERS 7, YANKEES 1: Cole Hamels breezed through seven shutout innings to win his fourth consecutive start, Adrian Beltre homered and drove in three runs, and Texas won at New York.
One night after Texas rallied to win at 2:44 a.m. following a 3 1/2-hour rain delay in the ninth inning, the Rangers again played with plenty of spunk and energy.
Carlos Beltran on the Yankees left in the first with a tight right hamstring.
TWINS 4, WHITE SOX 0: Brian Dozier homered twice and drove in four runs, Kyle Gibson pitched seven innings of five-hit ball for his first victory of the season, and Minnesota won at Chicago.
Dozier homered in his third straight game and extended his hitting streak to 10 games as the last-place Twins beat the White Sox for first time in seven tries.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
DODGERS 6, BREWERS 5: Rookie Julio Urias battled through six innings for his first major league victory, Adrian Gonzalez had three hits and Los Angeles won at Milwaukee.
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