Cleveland Indians set MLB record with 22 consecutive wins in stunning comeback victory

The Cleveland Indians established a new Major League record for most consecutive games won in stunning fashion on Thursday night, scoring a run each in the ninth and 10th innings to steal a 3-2 victory over the Kansas City Royals and cement their place in baseball history.

The Indians were down to their last strike in the ninth inning when shortstop Francisco Lindor drove a double down the left field line off Royals closer Kelvin Herrera just beyond the reach of left fielder Alex Gordon to score pinch-runner Erik Gonzalez all the way from first base.

After Cody Allen set down Kansas City in the top of the 10th, Indians third baseman and MVP contender Jose Ramirez hustled out a double against Royals reliever Brandon Maurer to kick off the bottom of the frame. Edwin Encarnacion drew a walk, and Jay Bruce delivered the walk-off hit -- a scorching liner down the right field line.

The victory broke the record previously held by the 1935 Chicago Cubs -- the same franchise that famously beat Cleveland in last year's World Series.

None of the Indians' previous 21 wins had gone to extra innings, and they trailed in six innings on Thursday after doing so in just four of the previous 189 innings during the streak.

It was quite a way for the Tribe to rewrite the history books in front of their home fans, many of whom stuck around to celebrate long after Ramirez had crossed home plate to seal the victory.

And why not? They deserved to soak in such a colossal triumph after last year's heartbreak to the Cubs. Now, the Indians will try to finish the job they couldn't complete last October and bring a World Series trophy back to Cleveland.