Kluber, Indians Off to Pitch-perfect Start in W.S.

By ESPN

Corey Kluber and the Cleveland Indians are off to a pitch-perfect start in the World Series.

The Chicago Cubs, meanwhile, fell completely flat in their first appearance since 1945.

Kluber dominated into the seventh inning, Roberto Perez had four RBI with a pair of home runs and the Indians beat the Cubs 6-0 in Tuesday night's opener of a highly anticipated matchup between the teams with baseball's longest championship droughts.

"It's almost like you have that extra level of intensity," said Kluber, who became the first Series pitcher to strike out eight batters in the first three innings.

AL Championship Series MVP Andrew Miller escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the seventh and stranded runners at the corners the eighth, preserving a three-run lead and delighting the sellout crowd of 38,091 in Cleveland's first-ever Series home opener.

"The atmosphere in the World Series is so great," Miller said. "You can't help but get caught up in it and enjoy it."

The Indians pitched their fourth shutout in nine games this postseason. After stifling two dangerous lineups in Boston and Toronto during the AL playoffs, Cleveland shut down a hard-hitting Cubs team that scored 23 runs against the Dodgers in the final three games of the NLCS.

Back in the Series for the first time since 1997, the Indians scored twice in the first off October ace Jon Lester.

Perez hit a fourth-inning solo shot and added a three-run drive in the eighth against Hector Rondon, becoming the first Cleveland player and the only No. 9 batter to homer twice in a Series game.

"Oh, I don't think I've ever had a night like that," Perez said.

He has three home runs in 27 at-bats during the postseason after hitting three in 153 during the regular season.

"I've come a long ways," Perez said,

Francisco Lindor added three hits as the Indians improved to 8-1 this postseason. Cleveland manager Terry Francona is 9-0 in the Series, including sweeps by his Boston teams in 2004 and `07.

The Game 1 winner has taken the title in the last six Series and 17 of 19.

"I have no concerns," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "It's the first game. I'm fine. We're fine."

 Wednesday, October 26 Schedule (Time Central)

Chicago  Cubs at Cleveland, 7 p.m.

Thursday, October 24 Schedule

No game scheduled

Friday, October 25 Schedule (Time Central)

Cleveland at Chicago Cubs, 7 p.m.

Saturday, October 29 Schedule (Time Central)

Cleveland at Chicago Cubs, 7 p.m.

Sunday, October 30 (Time Central)

Cleveland at Chicago Cubs, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, November 1 Schedule (Time Central)

Chicago Cubs at Cleveland, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, November 2 Schedule (Time Central)

Chicago Cubs at Cleveland, 7 p.m.