Matt Holliday is looked at by the team trainer after getting hit on the elbow

Matt Holliday is looked at by the team trainer after getting hit on the elbow

The reigning American League Cy Young Award winner won his first game of the year and he busted out in grand fashion.  Corey Kluber finished with 18 strikeouts and the Cardinals tied a franchise record with 19 strikeouts for the game in their 2-0 loss to the Cleveland Indians.

The other time the club whiffed 19 times was when they played the Mets in a 20-inning game back in 2010.  At least the Cardinals won that game and had the 19 strikeouts in the span of two-plus games.

What happened Wednesday night was baffling.

According to Cleveland’s media relations department it’s just the second time since 1900 that a team has struck out 19 or more and finished with one or less hits in a game.

”I think we got a taste of why he won the Cy Young last year,” said third baseman Matt Carpenter, who went 0 for 3 and struck out twice against Kluber.

Matt Holliday is listed day-to-day with an elbow bruise after he took a 94 mph’er from Kluber in the first inning.  Holliday left the game.