Photos: Kluber Cruises As Indians Take Game 1 Of World Series, 6-0, But Cubs Need Not Panic
Chicago Cubs' Jon Lester wipes his face as he leaves the game during the sixth inning of Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Cleveland Indians Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
![Chicago Cubs' Jon Lester wipes his face as he leaves the game during the sixth inning of Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Cleveland Indians Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)]()
Cleveland Indians center fielder Rajai Davis catches a fly ball hit by Chicago Cubs' Addison Russell during the fifth inning of Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
![Cleveland Indians center fielder Rajai Davis catches a fly ball hit by Chicago Cubs' Addison Russell during the fifth inning of Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)]()
Cleveland Indians' Jose Ramirez hits a double against the Chicago Cubs during the sixth inning of Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
![Cleveland Indians' Jose Ramirez hits a double against the Chicago Cubs during the sixth inning of Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)]()
Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Andrew Miller celebrates after the end of the top of the seventh inning against the Chicago Cubs during Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
![Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Andrew Miller celebrates after the end of the top of the seventh inning against the Chicago Cubs during Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)]()
Chicago Cubs' Kyle Schwarber hits a double against the Cleveland Indians during the fourth inning of Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
![Chicago Cubs' Kyle Schwarber hits a double against the Cleveland Indians during the fourth inning of Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)]()
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jon Lester, left, talks to home plate umpire Larry Vanover after the third inning in Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Cleveland Indians Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
![Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jon Lester, left, talks to home plate umpire Larry Vanover after the third inning in Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Cleveland Indians Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)]()
Cleveland Indians' Roberto Perez (55) celebrates his home run in front of Chicago Cubs catcher David Ross during the fourth inning of Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
![Cleveland Indians' Roberto Perez (55) celebrates his home run in front of Chicago Cubs catcher David Ross during the fourth inning of Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)]()
In this multiple exposure picture, Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber throws against the Chicago Cubs during the third inning of Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
![In this multiple exposure picture, Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber throws against the Chicago Cubs during the third inning of Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)]()
Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber throws during the first inning of Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Chicago Cubs Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Elsa Garrison)
![Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber throws during the first inning of Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Chicago Cubs Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Elsa Garrison)]()
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jon Lester reacts after giving up a home run to Cleveland Indians' Roberto Perez during the fourth inning of Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
![Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jon Lester reacts after giving up a home run to Cleveland Indians' Roberto Perez during the fourth inning of Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)]()
Cleveland Indians' Jose Ramirez hits a double during the sixth inning of Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Chicago Cubs Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
![Cleveland Indians' Jose Ramirez hits a double during the sixth inning of Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Chicago Cubs Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)]()
Fans cheer during the third inning of Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series between the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago Cubs Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
![Fans cheer during the third inning of Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series between the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago Cubs Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)]()
Cleveland Indians' Roberto Perez hits a home run during the fourth inning of Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Chicago Cubs Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
![Cleveland Indians' Roberto Perez hits a home run during the fourth inning of Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Chicago Cubs Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)]()
Chicago Cubs' Javier Baez watches from the dugout during the eighth inning of Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Cleveland Indians Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
![Chicago Cubs' Javier Baez watches from the dugout during the eighth inning of Game 1 of the Major League Baseball World Series against the Cleveland Indians Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2016, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)]()
The Cubs made their impossibly buzzed-about return to the World Series on Tuesday night; but thanks to a sterling performance from Cleveland Indians starter Corey Kluber, it was a beginning the North Siders will be happy to leave to history.
Kluber, the likely AL Cy Young winner, was in full control of his absolutely criminal breaking ball as he struck out a whopping nine Cubs batters through six scoreless innings, allowing only four hits, en route to a decisive 6-0 Cleveland win. Cubs starter Jon Lester was effective at turns (although he received few favors from umpire Larry Vanover). But the Indians’ three-run first inning—supplemented by Roberto Perez's solo shot in the fourth and his three-run blast in the eighth—all proved more than plenty as the Indians showcased intimidating offense.
It looked like the Cubs might claw their way back in the seventh, when they loaded the bases with nobody out, and again in the eighth, when comeback kid Kyle Schwarber represented the tying run at the plate. But the Indians’ fearsome fireman Andrew Miller, well, put out the fires, drawing a flyout then two swinging Ks in the seventh and striking out Schwarber in the eighth to end the inning.
The loss was a tough way to open the Cubs’ return to the Fall Classic, but it should hardly be taken as cause for alarm. Chicago is favored in five of the next six games; and the last time we saw the Cubs offense stifled by opposition’s starting pitching—in back-to-back-shutout losses against LA in the NLCS—they responded by putting up 23 runs across three consecutive wins. Plus Chicago was able to extend Miller's pitch count all the way to 46, which should bode well for Game Two.
But however well positioned Chicago may be for the immediate future, Tuesday night did not go down easy.
