CLEVELAND _ One of Indians manager Terry Francona's core baseball beliefs is that a team's momentum is only up to the next day's starting pitcher.
It's possible, then, that Indians starter Trevor Bauer was one of the few pitchers in the game able to stop the red-hot Pittsburgh Pirates, who came into Wednesday's action at Progressive Field winners of 11 consecutive games.
And, with some help from the bullpen, Bauer did just that as the Indians topped the Pirates, 4-0.
Bauer (9-6, 2.32 ERA) has built a strong Cy Young case in the American League through the first three-plus months, and he only bolstered that with seven scoreless innings against the Pirates.
"I thought he did a great job," Francona said of Bauer, who allowed only two hits and two walks and struck out 10. "They're so aggressive and they all kind of got hot at the same time, and he slowed them down. He threw a lot of breaking balls for strikes, worked ahead. He lost the plate a couple times but, man, he competes like nobody's business. When he starts to get himself into a jam he pitches his way out of it."
It was the ninth double-digit strikeout game of the season for Bauer, who is tied for second in the majors and just one behind Washington Nationals ace Max Scherzer. It also was Bauer's 12th consecutive start in which he's struck out at least seven batters, which is tied for the second-longest streak in franchise history behind Corey Kluber's 14 in 2017.
As of the conclusion of Wednesday's game, Bauer was second in the majors with 192 strikeouts, five behind Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale.
"If he's not one of the top guys in the game right now, in the American League, you're not being fair to him," Yonder Alonso said of Bauer. "He did amazing. I think this is his best start yet. We have a hot team here, obviously, that we have to play and you can tell from the beginning of the game he had full control."
The Indians broke through against Pirates starter Jameson Taillon (7-8) only once, but it was enough for Bauer and the bullpen. Francisco Lindor and Michael Brantley both singled with one out in the third inning, and Jose Ramirez followed by grounding into a fielder's choice as Lindor advanced to third.
Ramirez then stole second base for his 21st steal of the season, and Edwin Encarnacion singled to left-center to score both baserunners and provide the Indians (55-46) with all the runs they'd need.
The Pirates, who have climbed to third in the National League Central, fell to 53-50.
In the eighth, Alonso belted a two-run home run to right field off Pirates reliever Felipe Vazquez, giving the Indians some insurance runs. It was Alonso's 16th homer of the season and fourth in July.
Adam Cimber relieved Bauer with a runner on first in the eighth inning and allowed a single to the first batter he faced, but then induced a 4-6-3 double play.
Brad Hand entered and struck out Adam Frazier to end the inning and stuck around to pitch a 1-2-3 ninth, striking out the final two hitters, for his first save since being acquired from the San Diego Padres.
