Kluber fans 11 over 8 strong innings to support Cy Young bid

Cleveland, OH - Corey Kluber closed out a brilliant 2014 season in grand fashion, striking out 11 over eight scoreless innings to allow the Cleveland Indians to edge the Tampa Bay Rays in a 1-0 duel.

Kluber (18-9) scattered five hits and two walks to win his fifth consecutive start and state a final case for the American League's Cy Young Award. His latest gem was just enough to best counterpart Chris Archer, who gave up next to nothing except for a solo homer to Jose Ramirez in the first inning that wound up as the game's only run.

Whether it can keep the Indians alive for a postseason berth remains to be seen. Cleveland still must win its final two games against the Rays and have Oakland lose all three at Texas this weekend to force a playoff.

Archer (10-9) deserved a better fate in Tampa Bay's sixth loss in eight games. The right-hander yielded just two other hits and a pair of walks after Ramirez's blast, while striking out six over 7 2/3 outstanding innings.

He put himself in an early hole, however, as Ramirez drove a high fastball over the wall in right center with one out in the bottom of the first inning for what turned out to be the pivotal run.

The Indians recorded only one more hit until Mike Aviles singled on Archer's final pitch in the eighth, but Kluber gave the Rays few opportunities as well.

Kevin Kiermaier tripled off the Cleveland ace in the fifth, but that came with two out and Kluber promptly retired Ryan Hanigan to keep it a 1-0 game.

The Rays put two on in the seventh, with Matt Joyce coming through with a single and Kiermaier drawing a two-out walk. However, Hanigan took a called strike three for Kluber's ninth K of the evening.

Kluber fanned two more during a perfect eighth inning and Cody Allen set the side down in order in the ninth to nail down the victory and notch his 24th save.