NEW YORK -- Corey Kluber was so good, he even smiled.
The right-hander handcuffed Detroit batters Sunday to earn his 100th career win with his most dominant performance since 2018. The pitcher nicknamed Klubot for his robot-like demeanor grinned when congratulated in the dugout after his final inning.
"I'm not the most vocal or most emotional person in the clubhouse," he explained after the Yankees' 2-0 victory, "but I wouldn't say that I don't ever have a good time."
A day after Jameson Taillon's first win in exactly two years, Kluber combined on a two-hitter that helped New York (14-14) complete its first series sweep this season and get back to .500 for the first time since the Yankees were 5-5.
Before last month, Kluber had pitched one inning since May 1, 2019, due to a broken forearm when hit by a comebacker and a torn shoulder muscle. Kluber challenged himself "to kind of get back to maybe a level you expect of yourself."
"I tried to be realistic about it, that it probably wasn't going to be just flip a switch and feel like I like to feel out there, I'm accustomed to feeling out there," he said.
Kluber (2-2) looked like the pitcher who won AL Cy Young Awards with Cleveland in 2014 and 2017.
He allowed 2 hits in 8 innings, walked 1 and struck out 10. Kluber threw 74 of 103 pitches for strikes.
"When he's in the zone, it's kind of like -- good luck," said catcher Kyle Higashioka, who is gaining playing time from Gary Sanchez.
Kluiber's fastball was "only" 91 mph but he induced 18 swinging strikes -- 13 alone on 83-86 mph changeups that tamed a Tigers team that saw its season batting average dropped to a major league-worst .195.
Yankees Manager Aaron Boone appreciates Kluber's reserved demeanor.
"Obviously, he's a little understated and quiet and methodical and workmanlike and very routine-oriented," Boone said.
Detroit has lost five in a row and 10 of 11, dropping to a major league-worst 8-21. The Tigers have been blanked in three of their last four games and six times overall, on pace for 33 shutouts this season.
RAYS 5, ASTROS 4 Austin Meadows hit a three-run home run and later scored the go-ahead run on Manuel Margot's pinch-hit single in the seventh inning as Tampa Bay beat Houston.
TWINS 13, ROYALS 4 Andrelton Simmons and Mitch Garver homered in a seven-run third inning, and rookie Alex Kirillof went deep for the fourth time in three games as Minnesota routed Kansas City.
INDIANS 5, WHITE SOX 0 Jose Ramirez and Cesar Hernandez homered, Amed Rosario had three hits and Cleveland blanked Chicago.
RANGERS 5, RED SOX 3 David Dahl and Brock Holt each hit an RBI single in Texas' three-run eighth inning, and the Rangers defeated Boston.
ATHLETICS 7, ORIOLES 5 Center fielder Ramon Laureano robbed the Orioles of the likely go-ahead run with a leaping catch in the eighth inning and then hit a tiebreaking, two-run home run in the bottom half to send Oakland past Baltimore.
MARINERS 2, ANGELS 0 Justus Sheffield allowed just two hits over six innings, leading Seattle over Los Angeles.
NATIONAL LEAGUE
DODGERS 16, BREWERS 4 A.J. Pollock drove in eight runs and Matt Beatty knocked in seven, with both players hitting early grand slams in a startling power show that sent Los Angeles over Milwaukee. Pollock homered twice and doubled while Beaty went 4 for 6 and scored three times.
NATIONALS 3, MARLINS 1 Max Scherzer tossed a five-hitter to lead Washington over Miami. Scherzer carried a shutout into the ninth inning before Isan Diaz led off with a home run. The right-hander struck out nine without a walk.
REDS 13, CUBS 12, (10) Nick Castellanos hit a game-ending single off Craig Kimbrel (0-1) in the 10th inning to give Cincinnati a wild win over Chicago. Castellanos finished with five hits and four RBI against his former team, including two of the Reds' five home runs. Mike Moustakas, Eugenio Suarez and Tucker Barnhart also connected.
CARDINALS 3, PIRATES 0 Carlos Martínez pitched eight innings, Harrison Bader hit an early three-run homer and St. Louis shut down Pittsburgh for a three-game sweep. Martínez (2-4) allowed five hits and two walks. He struck out three and retired his final eight batters.
GIANTS 7, PADRES 1 Mike Tauchman homered and drove in four runs as San Francisco beat San Diego.
DIAMONDBACKS 8, ROCKIES 4 Stephen Vogt hit a go-ahead, two-run triple, Josh Rojas and Daulton Varsho added RBI doubles and Arizona topped Colorado.
INTERLEAGUE
BLUE JAYS 7, BRAVES 2
Marcus Semien homered and drove in four runs as Toronto finished off a three-game sweep of Atlanta. Blue Jays newcomer George Springer exited early with leg fatigue.
