Indians Ride of Destiny Continues, Rally To Top Royals 3-2 for 22nd Straight Win; Three Takeaways From the Win

CLEVELAND - It has been a lot of fun to watch up to this point as the Indians pummeled their way to 21 straight wins. The storyline for win number 22 was going

CLEVELAND - It has been a lot of fun to watch up to this point as the Indians pummeled their way to 21 straight wins.

The storyline for win number 22 was going to be a lot different. But it might have been the most fun the fans and players have had yet.

Down to their last strike from the streak ending, the Indians got a huge double from Francisco Lindor in the 9th to tie the game, and another from Jay Bruce in the 10th to win it, as they topped the Royals 3-2 to keep the streak alive.

It looked most of the night like getting to that elusive 22nd straight win was going to be tough, as the team had their issues with getting runners home, with a golden chance in the 8th inning that they couldn't come through on.

In the end, it was their young stars in Lindor and Jose Ramirez that bailed them out, and Bruce's clutch hit was the key in the exciting playoff like win.

Here's three tough takeaways from the one-run win as the team will look for win 23 in a row on Friday night.

3. Bruuuuccceeee

After a huge 8th inning letdown in which Jay Bruce fouled out on the first pitch with the bases loaded, the Indians vet came through in a big way in the 10th, slamming a double down the right field line for the game-winning run in the 3-2 victory.

Bruce has been a huge spark to the lineup, and it was like a solid vet to not let the 8th inning AB affect him once he came up in the 10th with the game on the line.

Since coming to Cleveland, the Indians haven't lost much with Bruce on the roster. How does 31-5 sound? He's been exactly what the Indians needed when it came to leadership and a veteran presence, and there's no doubt the Tribe is going to look at bringing him back with a longer deal this offesason.

Game-winning Hammy, anyone?#WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWindians https://t.co/jah3TAiBsI

— Cleveland Guardians (@CleGuardians) September 15, 2017

2. Frankie in the Clutch

Down to their last strike and their long winning streak ending, Francisco Lindor did what superstars do, that being come through in the clutch with a double to tie the game at two in the 9th.

Lindor right away when asked about the AB to tie the game wanted to talk about Tyler Naquin and his single through the hole at short that gave the Indians a shot at bringing home the winning run.

Then the shortstop battled Royals reliever Kelvin Herrea, and finally lined a ball the other way, and at first it looked like Alex Gordon might make the play, but instead the ball trickled off the wall, and the tying run came around to score.

Lindor in true Frankie fashion pumped his fist and gave a big smile, and one inning later the win streak was pushed to 22, all thanks to a huge clutch hit.

1. Tomlin Stays the Course

Night after night the Indians starting pitching has been downright outstanding, and again on Thursday Josh Tomlin stepped on the rubber and did a solid job for the Indians.

The veteran pitcher kept the Indians in the game, going 5.2 innings, allowing two runs on six hits with one walk and four strikeouts.

The second run allowed was questionable as with two outs in the 6th Abraham Almonte appeared to dive a second too soon and the ball hit him as he wasn't able to pull it in, allowing the second Royals run to score.

For Tomlin he has gone 5-0 with a 2.66 ERA in seven starts since July 6th, and against the Royals, a team that was supposed to be a challenge for the Tribe in 2017, he's 1-1 against them with a 2.17 ERA.

Choosing who is going to start in October with the way guys like Tomlin and Clevinger are throwing is not going to be easy for Terry Francona.