CLEVELAND -- Before Thursday's first game of the Indians doubleheader against the Twins, Terry Francona talked about winning it "at all costs." His players definitely got the message.
Corey Kluber went 8 1/3 innings while the offense had a rare breakout game en route to an 8-2 win.
Kluber allowed just two runs on eight hits while striking out seven as he improved to 15-6. He is the first Indians pitcher to reach 15 wins since Cliff Lee went 22-3 in 2008 and is the most wins by a right-hander since Roberto Hernandez (19-8) and Paul Byrd (15-8) in 2007.
The one major difference in this game is that Kluber actually had a comfortable lead to work with. The right-hander gave up a run in the first after Jason Vargas' two-out single drove in Danny Santana but the Indians quickly answered on a Carlos Santana two-run homer. Santana, who has 26 homers on the season, crushed a 2-0 Kyle Gibson fastball 442 feet to right. According to the home run tracker, that was the third longest home run at Progressive Field this season.
Yan Gomes added a solo shot in the second and drove in three runs on the day. Michael Brantley also added two hits and two RBI as the Indians scored seven runs in the first three innings. It is the first time they have scored eight runs or more in a nine-inning game since beat Texas 12-2 on Aug. 1.
Said manager Terry Francona of Kluber: "It always seems like he's in a one-run game and he comes out and grinds through it. It seems like every inning there's no margin for error."
Thursday also marked Kluber's fifth start in which he worked at least eight innings while striking out at least seven and walking none. The last Tribe pitcher to do that was Greg Swindell in 1988.
Since losing three straight from Aug. 21-Sept. 1, Kluber has returned to form in the past two, allowing only two earned runs in 17 1/3 inning while striking out 15 and walking none.
Kluber Tracker
Where Corey Kluber ranks among American League leaders after Saturday’s game:
Starts: 31 (T-1st)
Wins: 15 (T-3rd)
Complete Games: 3 (T-2nd)
ERA: 2.45 (3rd)
Innings Pitched: 212 2/3 (2nd)
Strikeouts: 230 (3rd)
Home ERA: 2.33 (4th)
Day ERA: 2.47 (8th)
Night ERA: 2.45 (5th)
Opp. Average Against: .234 (T-6th)
