Corey Kluber Strikes Out Nine In Indians’ 6-0 World Series Game 1 Win Over Cubs

Corey Kluber walked off the mound at Progressive field to a loud ovation on Tuesday night, after he compiled nine strikeouts in six-plus dominant innings to lead the Cleveland Indians to a 6-0 thrashing of the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the World Series.

Corey Kluber Strikes Out Nine In Indians’ 6-0 World Series Game 1 Win Over Cubs

The ace set a World Series record with eight strikeouts in the first three innings as he out-dueled left-hander Jon Lester. 

“He’s our ace,” Indians catcher Roberto Perez said. “Every time he steps on the mound, I expect big things from him. He was awesome. We had a good game plan going on before the game. We executed pitches, and he was outstanding.”

Thanks to Kluber’s strong outing and a pair of home runs from Perez, “I don’t know if there is one thing you can put your finger on,” Kluber said of his postseason dominance. “I think that it’s, obviously, there’s more riding on each game. So, not that there is less importance on a regular-season game, but it’s almost like you have that extra level of intensity or focus and stuff that it’s not really something you can replicate.”

The Tribe has not won the World Series since 1948, while the Cubs’ last national title came in 1908. Chicago’s last victory in a World Series contest came in Game 6 of the 1945 Series against Detroit.

“I’m not disappointed by any means except for the fact that we did not win,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said of his team’s performance. “I thought we came out ready to play. They pitched well. … I know we had 15 punch-outs, I get it, but the quality of the at-bats were not that bad.”

Lester allowed more free bases in the first inning of Game 1 than he had in his three National League playoff starts combined.

Lester allowed one more run, the first of Perez’s two homers, before exiting with two outs in the sixth.

Andrew Miller was not as sharp, needing 46 pitches to get through two innings, surviving two hits and two walks while striking out three. Cody Allen allowed a double but struck out the side.

Indians manager Terry Francona said he was not sure what he could ask of Miller for Game 2, adding that it might rain anyway. The game time has already been moved up an hour, to 7 p.m., due to a threatening forecast.

Regardless of when Game 2 is played, the Cubs will be content to have Kyle Schwarber as their designated hitter. Schwarber, who missed more than six months with torn knee ligaments, managed a double and a walk in Game 1.

The Indians, who have been one of MLB’s best teams at home all season long, improved to 8-1 in the postseason and 5-0 in front of the Cleveland faithful. Overall, teams with a 1-0 lead have won the World Series 71 out of 111 times.

“We were fortunate enough to win this one,” Allen said. “We’ll enjoy it tonight, but we have to show up and be ready tomorrow. It’s a seven-game series, a lot of stuff can change.”

Perez fired a three-run blast in the eighth off Hector Rondon. After Kluber allowed a leadoff single to Ben Zobrist in the seventh, Francona called up Miller. Cubs second baseman Javier Baez then hit a pitch into left field for a single, loading the bases with no outs.

Game 2 is set for Wednesday night in Cleveland. Reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta will start for the Cubs, while righty Trevor Bauer will start for the Indians.

CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 25: Corey Kluber #28 of the Cleveland Indians throws a pitch during the sixth inning against the Chicago Cubs in Game One of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field on October 25, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)