Historical facts on career night for Kluber

Indians ace Corey Kluber recorded a career-high 18 strikeouts in a 2-0 victory over the Cardinals on Wednesday night. In eight innings of work, the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner allowed just one hit and issued no walks. Here is a glance at the historical perspective of Kluber's night.

• This marks the 30th time since at least 1914 that a pitcher recorded at least 18 strikeouts in a game, but only the 22nd time (15 pitchers) in a nine-inning contest. The previous pitcher to fan 18-plus in a game was Ben Sheets on May 16, 2004, for Milwaukee.

• Kluber's 18 strikeouts equal Hall-of-Famer Bob Feller's franchise mark for a nine-inning game (Oct. 2, 1938). The overall single-game record is held by Luis Tiant, who struck out 19 in a 10-inning performance on July 3, 1968.

• This marks only the second time since at least 1914 that a pitcher recorded at least 18 strikeouts in no more than eight innings. The only other pitcher to achieve that feat was soon-to-be Hall-of-Famer Randy Johnson for Seattle on Sept. 27, 1992.

• Kluber joined Roger Clemens (three times), Johnson (twice), Kerry Wood (once) and Tiant (once) as the only pitchers since at least 1914 to have at least 18 strikeouts and no walks in an outing. Johnson was the last to accomplish it on May 8, 2001.

• Kluber joined Wood (May 6, 1998) as the only pitchers since at least 1914 to have 18-plus strikeouts, one or no hits and no walks allowed in an outing. Wood did so against the Astros in his 20-strikeout, one-hit gem for the Cubs in '98.

• Kluber and Wood (May 6, 1998) are also the only pitchers since at least 1914 with at least 18 strikeouts and one or no hits allowed in a start.

• Kluber's performance marked the first time since at least 1914 that a Major League pitcher had 18-plus strikeouts, one or no hits allowed and no walks in no more than eight innings.

• Kluber's Game Score of 98 represents the highest in a Major League outing consisting of no more than eight innings since at least 1914. It also equals the best Game Score in a nine-inning game in team history (Len Barker on May 15, 1981, and Dennis Eckersley on May 30, 1977).

• According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Cleveland is only the second team in the Modern Era (since 1900) to have 19-plus strikeouts with one or no hits allowed in a game. The Cubs also accomplished that feat on May 6, 1998 (Wood).

• Kluber's 18 strikeouts are the most all-time by one pitcher against the Cardinals. The previous record of 17 was held by Brooklyn's Dazzy Vance, who achieved that mark against St. Louis on July 20, 1925.