CLEVELAND — Cleveland pitcher Corey Kluber shook off early-season doldrums with a vengeance Wednesday, striking out 18 to lead the Indians to a 2-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in an Inter-League game. Kluber's 18 strikeouts matched the Cleveland club record for a nine-inning game set by Indians legend Bob Feller. Hall of Famer Feller struck out 18 Detroit Tigers on October 2, 1938.
Kluber had a chance to break the Major League Baseball mark of 20 strikeouts, shared by Roger Clemens and Kerry Wood, but was pulled before the ninth inning after throwing 113 pitches.
The last pitcher to record 18 strikeouts in a game was Milwaukee's Ben Sheets against the Atlanta Braves on May 16, 2004.
Kluber, the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, allowed just one hit in the victory, a welcome turnaround in what had so far been a tough season.
He took a loss to open the season, then picked up two straight no-decisions in his next two starts.
He had allowed at least four earned runs in each of his last four outings entering Wednesday with the Indians falling to 0-7 with him on the mound this year.
Although Kluber hit Cardinals batter Matt Holliday in the elbow in the first inning, he then retired 18 straight, including 14 by strikeout. He struck out the side in the third and fourth innings, and took a no-hitter into the seventh before Jhonny Peralta smacked a two-out single to center.
Kluber had three strikeouts in the seventh. Then, with his pitch count above 100, he fanned Yadier Molina and Mark Reynolds in the eighth and walked off the field to a massive ovation.
Other results: White Sox 4, Brewers 2; Astros 4, Giants 3; Angels 2, Rockies 1; Padres 4, Mariners 2.
American League Red Sox 2, A's 0
Wade Miley threw 6 2/3 shutout innings and Boston handed Oakland's Sonny Gray his first loss of the season, winning 2-0.
Miley allowed five hits but walked four and repeatedly pitched out of jams as he snapped a three-game losing streak. Gray gave up one run and three hits, struck out nine and didn't walk a batter in seven innings.
Rays 3, Yankees 2
For the second night in a row, Tampa Bay beat first-place New York, getting clutch outs to strand 10 Yankees on base and win 3-2.
The game shifted on two plays at the plate -- Asdrubal Cabrera made a smart read on a bloop single to score the winning run from second base in the second inning, and Mark Teixeira was thrown out by Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier for the final out the fifth.
Orioles 6, Blue Jays 1
Caleb Joseph sparked a five-run second inning with a two-run double and Baltimore's Miguel Gonzalez shut down Toronto for 7 2/3 innings as the Orioles won 6-1.
Joseph's double down the left field line off Toronto starter Aaron Sanchez gave the Orioles a 2-0 lead and that proved more than enough for Gonzalez. Other results: Rangers 5, Royals 2; Twins 6, Tigers 2.
National League Reds 5, Braves 1
Raisel Iglesias took a no-hitter into the sixth inning en route to his first major league victory and Marlon Byrd and Todd Frazier homered for Cincinnati in a 5-1 win over Atlanta.
Iglesias didn't allow a hit until Eric Young Jr.'s bloop single leading off the sixth. The 25-year-old Cuban gave up one run on two hits with three walks and five strikeouts in his second career start.
Cubs 2, Mets 1
New York Mets closer Jeurys Familia walked in pinch-runner Matt Szczur in the ninth inning as the Chicago Cubs rallied for a 2-1 victory.
Entering in a tie game with the bases loaded and none out in the bottom of the ninth, Familia struck out Cubs right fielder Jorge Soler but then walked left fielder Chris Coghlan on five pitches to force in the winning run.
