Existing words not enough to describe Kluber's performance in 6-0 trouncing of Rays

Indians 6, Rays 0

Tribe improves to 40-30

Box score

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Corey Kluber was masterful tonight, returning to Cy Young form in style with his third complete game and second complete game shutout this season. The stone cold brilliant performance propelled the Indians to their fifth win in a row, and tenth home win in a row.

This was one of those games where there simply aren’t enough superlatives in the dictionary to describe Klubot’s performance, so I’m going to make up a few new ones:

Incredulominant: capable of dominance on such a scale that the casual observer cannot comprehend it

(Kluber struck out nine batters, walked just two, and gave up only three hits - two of which were in the 9th inning.)

Terrifficient: possessing the ability to vanquish one’s foe with terrifying efficiency

(Kluber flirted with a Maddux, having thrown just 75 pitches through the 6th inning, and faced just five batters over the minimum.)

Shattertacular: of the mind that opponents’ bats are tools of evil and must be destroyed to guarantee victory in battle

(Kluber shattered like, twelve Rays bats tonight with his devastating arsenal.)

It takes a hell of a pitcher to inspire the creation of a whole new lexicon, but Kluber has proven time and again to be exactly that kind of pitcher. Though he has had his share of shaky outings this year, he has been able to pitch like this often enough to remind us that the real Klubot is still switched on and as powerful as ever. It was exactly the kind of performance he needed to get back on track after his abysmal outing last week in Kansas City. And if this version of Kluber starts to show up with more consistency, well... look out MLB.

You know what else was great about tonight’s game? The Indians actually scored some runs for Corey! Five more runs than they needed to, even. Jason Kipnis kicked off the scoring for the Tribe in the 3rd with what could have easily been ruled an in-the-park homer, but instead was ruled a long single and an error. Rays CF Desmond Jennings misplayed a sharp Kipnis liner that looked like it had some topspin, allowing it to bounced over Desmond’s head, off the tip of his glove, and roll all the way to the wall. Yan Gomes scored easily, and Kipnis raced home not far behind him.

That was the first of two errors for a sloppy Rays team tonight, and the score could have been even higher in the Tribe’s favour if not for some BABIP unlucky-ness. After a Jose Ramirez single in the 6th, Juan Uribe reached base when Tampa SS Brad Miller booted an easy grounder. Jose Ramirez advanced to 2nd and scored on a rocket shot single from Lonnie Chisenhall. With two on and one out, Yan Gomes smacked what looked like a perfectly placed liner just right of the 2nd base bag, but it didn’t quite have enough oomph. Logan Forsythe snagged the ball and doubled Uribe off 2nd easily to end the inning.

Still, three runs was more than enough for Kluber tonight. That didn’t stop the Angry Hamster, though. Ramirez belted a two-run homer in the 8th to put the Tribe up 5-0 and seal the Rays’ fate. For good measure, Juan Freakin’ Uribe followed up with his fourth homer in as many games to put this game officially into "laugher" territory. Kluber came out for the 9th and laboured a bit, giving up two more hits than he had during the previous eight innings, but ultimately got the job done.

Thanks to the Mets hanging on to beat the Royals in a close 2-1 game, the Indians now stand alone two games ahead of KC in 1st place. The Tribe goes for the sweep and their sixth win in a row tomorrow. Soak it in, folks. It’s all coming up Cleveland.