Another start, another gem by baseball’s best secret, Corey Kluber, who spun off another nine-inning performance, his third of the season. Kluber, whom I wrote about in an article for ESPN, simply overmatched the listless Mariners lineup, striking out eight, walking none, and coughing up just three measly singles.

It marked the 18th time that the Tribe’s ace right-hander has walked two or fewer hitters and the fifth time he’s struck out at least eight and walked none. The most impressive part of Kluber’s start: he needed just 85 pitches. And for those familiar with the statistic, it’s a “Maddux”, a complete game shutout with less than 100 pitches. Or other words, crazy dominant.

The Indians’ offense did just enough against Felix Hernandez, scratching out two runs in the fifth inning. The scorching hot Carlos Santana led off the inning with a walk and moved to third on a Lonnie Chisenhall double to deep right field. Nick Swisher found first base via an infield single. And Santana would be thrown out at home on a David Murphy groundout. Backstop Yan Gomes, who entered the game with a .333/.373/.628 triple-slash line in the month of July, knocked in a pair of runs with another double to right.

In all, the Indians carved out four hits, three of which came in the fifth inning.

The Indians look to take the third game of the series on Thursday (say that five times fast) as Zach McAllister faces the resurgent Chris Young.

3 Comments

  • LittleChicago42 says:

    Kluber tonight: 85 pitch complete game. 69 strikes, 16 balls. 16 balls thrown in nine innings. Let that sink in. Amazing.

  • Buddy Stevens says:

    Kluber is just like Maddux – if Maddux could throw 96 mph.

  • Peter says:

    Masterson would throw 16 balls in the second inning alone. Of course, that’s one of the reasons he is now a Cardinal.