The long awaited World Series Game 1 between the Cleveland Indians versus the Chicago Cubs started this Tuesday evening at the Progressive Field stadium in Cleveland, Ohio.
The formula for the Cleveland Indians this postseason has been to grab a lead early and rely on an overpowering bullpen to hold it. That makes the Chicago Cubs’ primary task to avoid playing from behind, and they learned firsthand how important that variable is to the Cleveland equation.
Corey Kluber took his brilliance on the mound to a new level on the game’s biggest stage and Roberto Perez blasted his way to a multi-home run night, leading the Indians to a 6-0 win over the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the World Series Tuesday night at Progressive Field.
Kluber was dominant during World Series Game 1, putting together one of the best postseason outings in franchise history and racking up strikeouts at a historic rate.
In the biggest start of his career, Kluber threw six scoreless innings while allowing only four hits.
The Indians love Perez’s glove, arm and ability to frame pitches. Any offense they get from him is a bonus.
All he did in his debut on baseball’s biggest stage was become the first Indians hitter with a multihomer game in the Series. He tied the franchise record for RBIs and joined Manny Ramirez and Jim Thome as the only Cleveland players to hit two homers in a postseason game.
Not bad for a backup catcher who batted .183 during the regular season.
“I’ve come a long ways. I’m just playing with a lot of confidence right now,” said Perez, who also homered in his first at-bat of the playoffs. “I’m not trying to do too much at the plate. I’m just trying to control my emotions. First World Series experience, and just trying to go out there and compete and try to get good ABs up there, and try to get on base and make something happen. It’s an unbelievable feeling.”
In the World Series Game 1 Perez worked the corners for starter Corey Kluber, who struck out nine Cubs — six of them looking.
For much of the season, Perez didn’t come close to hitting his weight (220 pounds), and there was a long stretch when he was almost an automatic out in the lineup. But when starter Yan Gomes went down with a separated shoulder in July and then a broken wrist in September, Perez stepped in and the Indians haven’t missed a beat.
He’s the latest surprise on a surprising squad of Indians.
“What he did at the plate tonight, my goodness, that was exciting to watch,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “Everybody was happy for him. You could see the way everybody reacted to it.”
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