NEW YORK (AP) — Trevor Bauer and Ryan Merritt shut down the Yankees’ offense, leading the Indians to a doubleheader sweep.
Defending AL champion Cleveland has won 16 of 20, opening a 7 1/2-game lead over second-place Minnesota in the AL Central.
New York dropped five games behind first-place Boston in the AL East heading into a four-game series against the Red Sox.
Bauer won his seventh consecutive decision and the Indians took Game 1, 2-1. Bauer allowed a run and four hits over six innings to stay unbeaten since a July 16 loss at Oakland. Jose Ramirez had four hits for the Indians, who scored on a passed ball and an RBI single by Yandy Diaz.
Diaz also provided a two-run single while Cleveland scored four times in the first inning of a 9-4 win in Game 2.
Edwin Encarnacion, Yan Gomes and Francisco Lindor added home runs as the Indians completed a three-game sweep and stretched their winning streak to seven games.
Winning pitcher Ryan Merritt limited the Yankees to a run and five hits over 5 1/3 innings.