Jay Bruce Powers Indians To Record 21st Straight Win; A.J. Pollock Drives Arizona Win Over Rockies

Players of the Day for Wednesday, September 14, 2017


American League

Bruce: 3-run homer

Picking up Jay Bruce for the Mets was a wise move by the AL defending champion Cleveland Indians. Taken in a deal just prior to the July 31 trade deadline, Bruce has added some punch to the lineup and Wednesday socked a first-inning, three-run home run to set the wheels turning for Cleveland's AL record 21st consecutive victory in a 5-3 win over the Detroit Tigers.

In 27 games this season with the Indians, Bruce has five home runs, 18 RBI and is batting .253.

The first inning homer was Bruce's only hit of the night, in three at-bats, but it was enough to get the Indians the lead in support of starter Mike Clevinger, who worked 5 2/3 innings and got the win, despite some shoddy fielding which allowed two unearned runs of the three attributed to the starter.

Cleveland had added another run in the third inning, putting the Indians up 4-3 following Clevinger's departure and they take don another run in the seventh, the relief staff holding the Tigers scoreless over the final three innings. Cody Allen picked up his 27th save with a perfect ninth.

The 21 wins surpasses the American League record held by the 2002 Oakland A's and ties the 1935 Chicago Cubs as the second-longest streak since 1900. The 1916 New York Giants hold the record, at 26, but that mark includes a tie.

Cleveland will look to extend their streak when they host the Kansas City Royals in the first of four games, Thursday at 7:10 pm ET.

Pollock: 2B, HR, 4 RBI

National League

Colorado took the first two games of a four-game series at Arizona, cutting the Diamondbacks' lead in the wild card race to three games, but Arizona roared back with an 8-2 victory on Wednesday, pushing their advantage back to four.

The Diamondbacks were led to the win by center fielder A.J. Pollock, who went 3-for-4 with a single, double, three-run home run and four RBI.

Pollock had played in 98 games for Arizona this season, and has 30 doubles, 10 homers and 36 RBI.

Arizona trails the Dodgers by 10 games in the NL West, but is in good position as the top wild card. Besides Colorado, there are only two other teams - Milwaukee and St. Louis - with a shot at gaining a wild card. The Brewers and Cardinals are three and 3 1/2 games behind the Rockies, respectively.

Game four of the series is Thursday at 4:05 pm ET.