Bieber Dazzles Again, Indians Win 3-1

Shane Bieber

(Photo by: Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

DETROIT -- Shane Bieber picked up his 4th win of the season as he was magnificent once again, striking out 11 over 7 shutout innings to propel the Indians to their 19th straight win against the Tigers with a 3-1 victory on Saturday night.

The scoring started in the 3rd for the Indians, after Spencer Turnbull walked Sandy Leon and Oscar Mercado to start the inning, Cesar Hernandez had a bunt single to load the bases and when Jose Ramirez stepped to the plate, he ripped a double over the right fielders head scoring Leon and Mercado to give the Indians a 2-0 lead.

The Indians picked up another run in the 5th when after a single and stolen base by Jose Ramirez, Carlos Santana shot a double into the left center field gap to score Ramirez from second to make it a 3-0 lead for the Tribe.

That was all Shane Bieber would need as he dazzled batters once again this season pitching seven shutout innings, allowing only three hits and one walk, while striking out 11 (9 in a row during the game) to improve to 4-0 on the year with a 1.30 ERA.

It was not smooth sailing in the bottom of the ninth for the Indians. Brad Hand, who was having control issues with his slider, walked the leadoff hitter, then got Miguel Cabrera to fly out, but after a catcher's interference call which put runners on 1st and 2nd. JaCoby Jones doubled to left with two outs to prevent the Indians shutout, which also gave the Tigers a chance to tie the game. With runners in scoring position, Cameron Maybin on the first pitch of the at bat grounded the ball right back to Hand to end the game.

The Indians look to sweep the series on Sunday afternoon at 1:10 as Adam Plutko (1-1, 2.45 ERA) takes the mound for the Indians against Michael Fulmer (0-0, 6.35 ERA) and the Tigers.

Postgame Notes

Cleveland has won 19 straight over Detroit dating back to the beginning of April 11, 2019, the longest win streak by Cleveland over a single opponent, surpassing a 17-game streak against Baltimore (May 21-Sept. 6, 1954)…marks the second-longest win streak against a single opponent in MLB history since 1969, surpassing the Yankees current 18-game streak against Baltimore and behind Baltimore’s 23-game streak against KC (May 10, 1969-Aug. 2, 1969).

Shane Bieber (7.0IP, 3H, 0R/ER, 1BB) earned his 4th win of the year, striking out 11 to bring his strikeout tally to 54 on the year, T3rd-most strikeouts in the first five starts of a season in MLB history since 1906 (SportsTime Ohio) and the most in the first 5 starts in franchise history

Bieber has recorded 8-or-more strikeouts in all five starts to begin the season marking the third-longest streak to start a season that a pitcher has recorded 8-or-more punchouts in Cleveland Indians history, behind Bob Feller (9G, 1946) and Sam McDowell (7G, 1966)…racked up his 10th career double-digit strikeout game, his third this season (most in MLB)…through 59 career games, Bieber becomes just the 15th pitcher in MLB since 1901 to have 10-or-more double-digit SO games in his first 60 career games…joins Herb Score (17x) and Bob Feller (12x) as the only other Indians to have 10+ double-digit SO games in first 60 career games.

José Ramírez (2-for-3, 2B, 2SB, 2RBI, R, 2BB) put the Tribe on the board with a 2-run double in the top of the 3rd…Tribe is 7-2 this season when José drives in a run this season and 46-10 since 2019 when the third baseman drives in one-or-more runs and 45-52 when he does not drive in a run…also racked up two stolen bases in tonight’s contest, his 14th career game with multiple stolen bases and the first time since May 29, 2019 at Boston.

Carlos Santana (1-for-4, 2B, RBI, BB)drew another walk in tonight’s contest and now has an MLB-best 27 walks in the first 21 games of the season

Cesar Hernandez (1-for-4, BB) has reached base in 19 of 20 games this year.


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