Cubs - 000 000 000 - 0 7 0 Cleveland - 200 100 03x - 6 10 0Corey Kluber (6-4-0-0-9, 88) set a postseason record by striking out eight batters in the first three innings. Roberto Perez hit two home runs and drove in four runs.
Cleveland got on the board quickly against Jon Lester (5.2-6-3-3-7, 97). Lester got the first two outs in the opening inning on only five pitches, but then the next five Cubs reached base. Francisco Lindor grounded a single up the middle and stole second. Lester walked Mike Napoli and Carlos Santana, loading the bases. Jose Ramirez's infield single brought home one run and when Brandon Guyer was hit by a pitch, it was 2-0.
The only real threat Chicago made in the first six innings was when Ben Zobrist (3-for-4) doubled to lead off the second. Kluber promptly struck out the next three hitters. Zobrist also led off the seventh with a hit - and that was when Cleveland manager Terry Francona called on Andrew Miller.
Miller was not as lights-out as he had been in the ALCS, He walked the first man he faced and then allowing a single that loaded the bases with none out. But the Cubs - with the potential go-ahead run at the plate - would come up empty, managing only a pop-up to short center and two strikeouts. Chicago put two men on against Miller in the eighth, but Kyle Schwarber, playing in his first major league game since April 7, struck out.
Miller ended up throwing 46 pitches, the most he has thrown in a game this season. Will he be available for Game 2? The last time a reliever threw at least 46 pitches and then worked the next day was Keith Foulke, in the 2004 ALCS.
Francona is now 9-0 in World Series games. ... The last Game 1 shutout was by the 1990 Reds. ... The start of Game 2 has been moved up an hour, to 7 PM, because of rain in the forecast.
World Series Schedule (All Games 8 PM)
Game 1: Tuesday, October 25: Cubs at Cleveland Game 2: Wednesday, October 26: Cubs at Cleveland Game 3: Friday, October 28: Cleveland at Cubs Game 4: Saturday, October 29: Cleveland at Cubs Game 5: Sunday, October 30: Cleveland at Cubs Game 6: Tuesday, November 1: Cubs at Cleveland Game 7: Wednesday, November 2: Cubs at ClevelandThe 112th World Series features the two major league teams with the longest championship droughts. The Chicago Cubs have not won baseball's championship since 1908, while Cleveland last won in 1948.
The Cubs are making their 11th appearance in the World Series (1906, 1907, 1908, 1910, 1918, 1929, 1932, 1935, 1938, 1945). That is only one fewer than the Red Sox. For Cleveland, it is their sixth World Series (1920, 1948, 1954, 1995, 1997). (Winning years are in bold.)
The two team's logos, from roughly when they each last won a title - Cubs (1911-14), Cleveland (1946-50):
Also:
Sam Miller, ESPN: Are Statheads Responsible For The Most Exciting Postseason In Years?
Grant Brisbee, SB Nation: The Cubs Won The Pennant Because Curses Are Dumb
August Fagerstrom, Fangraphs: The Math Behind Jon Lester's Harmless Oddities
Jeff Sullivan, Fangraphs: Why They Don't Run Like Mad On Jon Lester
Corinne Landrey, Fangraphs: Does Cleveland Even Need Danny Salazar?
John Woodrow Cox, Chicago Tribune: Chief Wahoo, Cleveland Indians' Logo, Heads To The World Series. Prepare For Outrage.
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