Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images
CHICAGO -- It's been nearly two weeks since the Cleveland Indians lost a game.
Trevor Bauer's winning streak dates all the way to July.
Bauer won his eighth decision in a row, and the Indians beat the Chicago White Sox 5-3 on Monday for their 12th straight victory.
Bauer (15-8) gave up two runs on three hits with nine strikeouts and one walk over 6 1/3 innings. A day after tying the major league record with five extra-base hits, including two homers, Jose Ramirez homered again for the Indians, his 23rd of the year .
Carlos Santana added his 22nd home run for the AL Central-leading Indians, who are two shy of the team-record 14 consecutive wins set last season.
"It's been great," Bauer said. "Everyone is playing so well. Staff as a whole, the bullpen, everyone has been hitting. Everyone is having fun. Winning is fun. It is contagious."
James Shields (2-6) kept the White Sox in the game before taking a line drive by Francisco Mejia off the knee in the top of the seventh. Shields limped off the field and is considered day-to-day.
The veteran right-hander allowed four runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings, extending his streak to 11 starts without a win.
The 21-year-old Mejia, a top catching prospect, had a run-scoring single in the fourth for his first hit and RBI in his first career start for the Indians.
"He squared up three balls today," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "He's just a good hitter."
The White Sox also received a shot in the arm from newcomer Rymer Liriano, who drove in all three runs with a two-run homer in the fifth -- his first hit with Chicago -- and a run-scoring double in the seventh.
The 26-year-old outfielder's only other career home run came with the San Diego Padres in 2014. He hadn't appeared in the major leagues since then until being called up on Saturday.
"We're happy for him," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "He has battled through a lot in his career. He had an injury a few years ago that could have put him out of the game. But he has battled through it, and it was nice to have him contribute like he did today."
Relievers Joe Smith, Tyler Olson and Bryan Shaw set up Cody Allen, who survived two walks to pitch a scoreless ninth for his 24th save in 28 chances.
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