ATLANTA: Carlos Santana hit a tie-breaking single in the Indians’ three-run ninth inning, Corey Kluber allowed only three hits in eight innings and the Indians beat the Atlanta Braves 5-3 on Tuesday night for their 11th consecutive win.
The winning streak is the Indians’ longest in 34 years.
Arodys Vizcaino (1-3) walked Tyler Naquin to open the ninth and then walked Juan Uribe on four pitches. With pinch-runner Rajai Davis at first base, pinch-hitter Michael Martinez struck out.
Vizcaino was in danger of issuing another walk when Santana lined a 3-1 pitch to right field, driving in Naquin from second base.
Braves shortstop Erick Aybar mishandled Francisco Lindor’s grounder for an error, allowing Davis to score. Jose Ramirez added a run-scoring single up the middle.
Kluber (8-7), coming off a shutout of Tampa Bay, didn’t allow a hit through five innings. The right-hander allowed two runs on three hits and one walk with seven strikeouts.
The Braves’ Jace Peterson hit a homer off Cody Allen in the ninth, giving him a nine-game hitting streak. A review confirmed Ender Inciarte was out on a close play at first after Santana bobbled a grounder before tossing to Allen at the bag.
Braves interim manager Brian Snitker and outfielder Jeff Francoeur, who was not playing, came out of the dugout to argue. Bench coach Terry Pendleton pulled Francoeur back to the dugout.
Freddie Freeman added a triple off the center-field wall before Allen ended the game on Nick Markakis’ fly ball to left field for his 15th save.
The Indians’ winning streak is their longest since 11 straight wins from May 23-June 4, 1982. They began the day leading the second-place Kansas City Royals by five games in the AL Central — their biggest lead in five years.
Inciarte’s two-run single in the sixth tied the game.
Atlanta right-hander Matt Wisler set a career high with nine strikeouts while allowing two runs on six hits in six innings.
Wisler gave up two runs in the first. Jason Kipnis singled and scored on Lindor’s single. Lindor later scored from third on a delayed double steal. It was Lindor’s first career steal of home.
Layne update
Umpire Jerry Layne, who left Monday night’s game in the eighth inning after he was hit by a foul tip from Markakis behind the plate, was at Turner Field on Tuesday but was held out of the game. He was staggered when the foul tip hit his jaw beyond the area covered by his mask.