There’s nothing wrong with the American League’s reigning Cy Young Award winner. Corey Kluber made that loud and clear Wednesday night, striking out a career-high 18 batters in eight innings and flirting with a no-hitter in a 2-0 shutout win over the Cardinals.
“Does anybody else need to ask him if he’s hurt?” asked manager Terry Francona afterward. “He was throwing with conviction and confidence and attacking with all his pitches. And when you have the talent he does, that’s what can come of it. It was special. … You’re not going to see something like that very often.”
Kluber did not look like the pitcher who entered the game with an 0-5 record and a 5.04 ERA. Instead, the right-hander made a strong bid to become the first Indian to pitch a no-hitter since Lenny Barker threw a perfect game on May 15, 1981. He had a no-hitter going until Cardinals shortstop Jhonny Peralta grounded a single to center with two outs in the seventh. It was the only hit off Kluber.
“That’s the old Kluber,” said catcher Roberto Perez. “That’s the Cy Young winner we know.”
Kluber, who did not walk a batter, finished with 18 strikeouts, the most by a major league pitcher this season. The brilliant effort tied the Indians’ club record for a nine-inning game set by Bob Feller on Oct. 2, 1938 against the Detroit Tigers. Fittingly, a new exhibit honoring Feller opened at Progressive Field before the game.
“I’ve said it before,” said Kluber, “any time that you throw your name in there with Bob Feller, that’s obviously very humbling and a great accomplishment. More important is obviously getting the win.”
Kluber had a chance to tie or break the major league record of 20 strikeouts shared by Kerry Wood and Rogers Clemens, but third-base coach Brad Mills, in for an ejected Francona, made the decision to put in closer Cody Allen for the ninth inning after Kluber had thrown 113 pitches.