CLEVELAND -- Good things happen when the Cleveland Indians give starting pitcher Corey Kluber at least four runs of support, but they did a little bit better than that in a series finale against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field Wednesday afternoon.
The Indians (40-33) rode a quick start and strong late-inning offensive outburst to a 12-0 victory over the White Sox (24-49), which completed a three-game sweep of their American League Central Division foes from Chicago.
Including Wednesday’s victory, when Kluber gets at least four runs of support, the Indians have won 73 consecutive games, a streak that started on June 11, 2013.
PHOTOS: Cleveland Indians face Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field
Over seven innings of work, Kluber allowed just one hit and one walk with seven strikeouts against the White Sox, whom the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner has now beaten twice this season.
With the win, Kluber broke a three-way tie with Washington ace Max Scherzer and New York Yankees star Luis Severino for the most victories in baseball. Kluber earned his 11th win in what was his 17th start of the season.
Kluber got early support from the offense in the bottom of the first inning.
Shortstop Francisco Lindor got the rally started with a lead-off walk on just four pitches from White Sox starter Reynaldo Lopez, all of which were low-90s four-seam fastballs. Then, left fielder Michael Brantley reached on an error charged to Chicago second baseman Yoan Moncada, which allowed Lindor to cruise from first base to third.
Third baseman Jose Ramirez delivered the crushing blow of the inning when he belted a three-run home run into the seats just in front of the bullpens in center field. Ramirez’s team-leading 22nd homer gave him 50 runs batted in before the halfway point of the season.
The home run gave Ramirez his 43rd extra-base hit of the season, which is second-most in all of Major League Baseball, behind only Minnesota Twins shortstop Eduardo Escobar. Additionally, Ramirez is tied with Boston’s J.D. Martinez for the second-most home runs and ranks sixth in RBI this season.
The Indians gave themselves a 4-0 lead with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Catcher Yan Gomes took a 1-1 pitch from Lopez to the wall in left field for a double, and came around to score two batters later when outfielder Rajai Davis, the No. 9 hitter in the lineup and a late replacement when Lonnie Chisenhall developed bilateral calf soreness, smacked an RBI single to left.
The Indians tallied their fifth run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Ramirez led off the frame with a five-pitch walk and stole second base with designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion at the plate. Ramirez came around to score when first baseman Yonder Alonso smashed a 3-1 pitch from Lopez to the wall in right field.
The Indians broke the game open for good when they plated six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Davis and Lindor started the inning with a single and walk, respectively. Both players later stole second base and Davis advanced to third on a wild pitch ahead of Lindor’s steal. Then, the White Sox loaded the bases with an international walk to Ramirez.
Encarnacion fought out of an 0-2 hole and smashed a belt-high slider from White Sox reliever Bruce Rondon down the left-field line, which drove in both Davis and Lindor.
After Alonso walked to reload the bases, Ramirez scored on a wild pitch, and then, second baseman Jason Kipnis belted a 1-0 pitch over the wall in right field for a three-run home run, his sixth of the season.
Winners of four straight games, the Indians have a day off Thursday before resuming the homestand with a weekend series against the Detroit Tigers on Friday night. Currently, the Indians hold a five-game lead over the Tigers for first place in the AL Central Division standings.