Brantley hits in record 19th straight at home

CLEVELAND -- Hot-hitting Tribe outfielder Michael Brantley has authored a new entry in the Cleveland record books.

With a double in the fifth inning of Friday night's 5-2 win over the Rockies, Brantley extended his home hitting streak to 19 games, which is the longest of any Indians batter since Progressive Field opened in 1994. He also joins a cast of five other batters who have hit safely in the park 19 straight times, led by Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus and his active 22-game streak that began in 2009.

"I think he's kind of earned where he's hitting," Indians manager Terry Francona said of Brantley, who has hit third in the lineup for much of the season. "He's done such a good job with it that I don't want to move him. His value last year besides what he did with the bat was being able to lead off, he hit everywhere. And it really helped us ... In my opinion, it helps keep some stability in your lineup when you're not moving everybody around."

Miguel Dilone owns the best all-time home mark in franchise history with a 27-game streak in 1980.

Brantley has been one of the most consistent hitters not just in the Indians lineup, but in all of baseball. His performance against the Rockies extended his current overall hitting streak to 15 games, during which he has hit .383 with seven extra-base hits, and he also had two other streaks of 11 games this year.