Indians capture 100th win

Associated Press

CLEVELAND

The number is big, round and historic.

The Indians aren’t satisfied with 100 wins. They aren’t stopping there, either.

Carlos Carrasco struck out 14, Jason Kipnis and Roberto Perez hit two-run homers and Cleveland joined an elite group with its 100th victory, 5-2 over the understandably sluggish, Twins who celebrated their wild-card berth earlier Thursday.

By improving to 31-3 since Aug. 24, the 2017 Indians joined the 1954 (111) and 1995 (100) teams to reach the century mark.

“That’s cool,” said Kipnis. “First, it’s a lot better than losing 100. I’ve been on that team before, and I think it was what, ’11 or ’12 where we went 5-25 in August. I’ve been on the teams where no matter what you do, you’re going to lose. This is one of those teams where no matter what you do, it feels like you’re going to win.”

The ’54 and ’95 teams both lost in the World Series, and after getting to Game 7 last year before losing to the Chicago Cubs, these Indians don’t care about any pre-October milestones — no matter how impressive.

“That’s not our goal,” said All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor. “It’s something amazing, special. It will be there for a long time. We’re just enjoying it and focusing on our daily job, which is to win.”

The Indians are the seventh team to reach 100 wins in the past decade.

Carrasco (18-6) dominated a Minnesota lineup loaded with reserves and September call-ups playing because the Twins rested several regulars hours after clinching a wild-card spot.

Carrasco allowed six hits — all singles — in 81/3 innings and improved to 3-0 with a 0.92 ERA against the Twins this season. The right-hander also moved into a tie for the league lead in wins with teammate Corey Kluber and Kansas City’s Jason Vargas.

A year ago, Carrasco was nursing a broken hand and watched the postseason as the Indians won their first pennant since 1997. This year, he’ll be slotted in behind Kluber, giving Cleveland a lethal 1-2 starting punch.

“He’s a bona fide ace in our mind,” Kipnis said. “The guy goes out there, and when he’s on, he’s pretty lights out and he’s pretty hard to hit. He’s a perfect complement to Corey, back-to-back guys that just have a plan, that know what they want to do and get it done. It takes usually more than one swing to score runs off them, and that’s what you want out of pitchers.”

Kipnis, who has moved from second base to center field, connected for a two-run homer — his first since Aug. 18 — in the sixth inning off Trevor Hildenberger (3-3) as the Indians stayed ahead of the Astros for the AL’s best record and home-field advantage until the Series. Cleveland also holds the tiebreaker over Houston.

Minnesota’s Ervin Santana tuned up for his start in next Tuesday’s wild-card game with five shutout innings. Manager Paul Molitor lifted the right-hander after 57 pitches, preserving him for either the Yankees or Red Sox.

“I’m very excited, but I have four more days until I pitch again,” Santana said. “I wanted to keep pitching, but it was Molly’s decision and I respect that.”