Indians set AL record with 21st consecutive win

History has been made in The Land.

The Cleveland Indians defeated the Detroit Tigers 5-3 on Wednesday afternoon, earning their 21st consecutive win and surpassing the 2002 Oakland Athletics for a new American League record.

Jay Bruce's three-run homer in the first inning, which barely cleared the left-field wall, put the Indians in front for good. Edwin Encarnacion also singled home an important run in the third inning.

Cleveland's win moved it into a tie with the 1935 Chicago Cubs and 1880 Chicago White Stockings at 21 consecutive wins.

Those streaks are cited by some as the modern major-league record, though the 1916 New York Giants sandwiched a tie into a 26-game win streak - a feat that's stirred up some debate about when the Indians will actually match the all-time major-league streak.

With the win, the Indians trimmed their magic number to clinch the AL Central to four, and moved three up on Houston for the best record in the Junior Circuit.

The Indians will go for win No. 22 on Thursday night when they host the Kansas City Royals. Josh Tomlin will toe the rubber for the home side; he'll be opposed by Royals right-hander Jake Junis.