FALSE START BY THE OFFENSE
Kluber, bullpen shut down Cubs’ bats, overshadowing return of Schwarber
CLEVELAND — It took forever for the Cubs to play in the World Series. Make that forever and a day. Indians starter Corey Kluber saw to that by shutting down the Cubs in a World Series opener that was 71 years in the making, beating them 6- 0 on Tuesday night at Progressive Field.
The Cubs managed just three hits against Kluber through the first six innings in support of their own postseason ace, Jon Lester.
And Indians manager Terry Francona confirmed after the game he pulled Kluber one batter into the seventh because he plans to bring the 2014 Cy Young Award winner back on short rest for Game 4, putting him in position also for a possible Game 7.
Nowwhat? Winners ofGame1 have won the last six World Series and 24 of the last 28.
“We got a long ways to go,” Lester said. “Everybody counted us out after Game 3. They said we were the worst best team in baseball. We’re here. We’re not giving up. I’m not too worried about what guys say or anything like that. I know my guys.”
After that 6- 0 loss in Game 3 against the Dodgers, the Cubs scored 23 runs to win the next three games.
This one was more about Kluber — and two- inning bullpen ace Andrew Miller — than anything else.
“He was just pretty much as dominant as one could be right there,” Anthony Rizzo said of Kluber, whose eight strikeouts through three innings set a World Series record.
At least they had the celebrated return of Kyle Schwarber to help distract from the sting on this chilly night in Cleveland.
And they won’t have to wait long to take their next shot at stealing home- field advantage because Wednesday’s Game 2 start time was moved up an hour to 6: 08 p. m.
And they’ll have their own Cy Young winner, Jake Arrieta, on the mound looking for the equalizer before returning to Wrigley Field.
“I think there’s a sour taste in our mouth tonight, because I think that we put up a better fight than that,” Addison Russell said. “I went outside my approach and kind of pressed a little bit. But you turn the page. You stay hopeful and you get better tomorrow.”
Schwarber, who was 0- for- 4 in two games before suffering a season- ending knee injury in the third game, returned to start as the Cubs’ designated hitter, batting fifth. He struck out on a 3- 2 pitch in his first atbat, but doubled off the right field wall against Kluber in the fourth and walked against Miller in the seventh.
The Cubs left the game optimistic over the fact they took Miller out of play for at least the next game by pushing his pitch
count to a postseason- high 46 in his two innings.
“That’s good for us, and guys getting to see him in the first game I think is always to the hitter’s advantage,” Rizzo said. “I don’t think anyone’s hanging their head.”
Lester blamed himself for the loss because of a two- run first inning that included two walks.
He had allowed two runs combined in three previous starts ( 21 innings) this postsead son.
“I’m not worried about the base hit,” Lester said. “I can live with hits. I can live with the
homer. I can live with any other hit during the game. It’s the walks. The walks can’t happen. I’ve got tomake those guys earn the two runs.”
The homer was a solo shot in the fourth by catcher Roberto Perez, the surprise hitting star who also delivered a three- run shot in the eighth off Hector Rondon. He’s the first player in World Series history to hit two home runs in a game batting in the ninth spot.