CHICAGO -- One more win and baseball fans everywhere might finally believe in these Cleveland Indians.
That's all it will take for Corey Kluber & Co. to clinch this World Series.
Kluber pitched six sparkling innings on short rest for his second victory this week and the Indians beat the Chicago Cubs 7-2 Saturday night, taking a 3-1 lead and nearing their first championship since 1948.
Jason Kipnis hit a three-run homer in his hometown and Carlos Santana connected for the first of his three hits as manager Terry Francona's team won for the second straight day at Wrigley Field.
Trevor Bauer gets the ball Sunday night when the visiting Indians try for the franchise's third World Series title against Jon Lester and the faltering Cubs.
"I think we like the position we're in, but the task isn't done yet," Kluber said. "We still have one more game to win, and we're going to show up tomorrow and play with the same sense of urgency we've played with until this point. We don't want to let them build up any momentum and let them get back in the series."
Still, not bad for a team that seemed like an underdog all year long.
The Indians topped the defending champion Royals and star-studded Tigers for the AL Central title, then came the postseason. No one thought they would beat Big Papi and Boston, outslug Toronto or ever end their drought before the charmed Cubs, who led the majors with 103 wins.
Well, look who is on the brink of hoisting the hardware.
"We've got one more to get and it's probably going to be the hardest victory of the year, but this is a special night for me and this team to take the first two here," said Kipnis, who grew up a Cubs fan on the north side of Chicago.
Kipnis had three hits and scored two runs as Cleveland moved to 10-2 in this postseason. Francisco Lindor contributed an RBI single, helping Francona improve to 11-1 in the World Series.
The Indians now will try to bring another crown to Cleveland, adding to the one LeBron James and the Cavaliers earned earlier this year.
"We have a ways to go. We're not done," Francona said.
Dexter Fowler doubled and scored in the first for the Cubs, and then homered against Andrew Miller in the eighth. Fowler's drive to left-center was the first homer for Chicago in the World Series since Phil Cavaretta connected in Game 1 in 1945 and the first run allowed by Miller during his dominant postseason.
In between Fowler's two hits, the Cubs came up empty every time they had a chance to put any pressure on Cleveland.
"So we made mistakes. Absolutely, we made mistakes tonight," manager Joe Maddon said. "That was part of it. But then again, we just have to do more offensively to give ourselves a chance."
The Indians won for the second straight day at Wrigley -- those two wins matched the Cubs' entire total of World Series victories in more than a century of playing at their famed ballpark.
"They're obviously doing something right, taking advantage of our mistakes and my mistakes," Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant said.
Pitching on three days' rest for the second time, Kluber allowed five hits, struck out six and walked one. The steady, stoic right-hander, who struck out nine in a dominant performance in Game 1, improved to 4-1 with a 0.89 ERA in five playoff starts this year.
Francona put Santana at first after starting him in left in Game 3, and Mike Napoli was out of the starting lineup for the time in the playoffs. And just like the rest of October, the decision worked out quite well for the Indians.
Santana led off the second with a drive to right against John Lackey, tying it at 1. Santana's third homer of the playoffs silenced the crowd of 41,706, and the Indians seized the momentum from there.
Two throwing errors on Bryant, including one on Kluber's infield single, led to an unearned run that put Cleveland ahead to stay. Kipnis connected for his second playoff homer in the seventh, pointing to his friends and family in the stands after powering the Indians to a 7-1 lead.
"We're mortals. We're baseball players. It's what we live for," Kipnis said. "At this kind of stage it's what we all dream about."
MORE ON KLUBER
Kluber's 0.89 ERA is the second-lowest for a single postseason for pitchers with at least 30 innings. Burt Hooton allowed three earned runs in 33 playoff innings for the 1981 Dodgers. Kluber is tied with Orel Hershiser (1995) for the Indians record for most strikeouts in a single postseason with 35.
"Just an unreal job by Kluber on three days' rest," Lindor said.
STEPPING UP
Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward made his first start of the World Series and responded with two hits. The 27-year-old Heyward, who signed a $184 million, eight-year contract with Chicago last winter, was just 2 for 31 in 12 playoff games coming into the night.
UP NEXT
Indians: Bauer lasted just 3 2/3 innings in Game 2, allowing two runs and six hits. The right-hander had a career-best 12 wins during the regular season, but is 0-1 with a 5.00 ERA in three playoff starts.
Cubs: Lester dropped to 3-1 with a 1.35 ERA in four career World Series starts when he allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings in the opener Tuesday night. The left-hander was the co-MVP of the NL Championship Series, going 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA in two starts against the Dodgers.
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Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap
Cleveland Indians
That's all it will take for Corey Kluber & Co. to clinch this World Series.
Kluber pitched six sparkling innings on short rest for his second victory this week and the Indians beat the Chicago Cubs 7-2 Saturday night, taking a 3-1 lead and nearing their first championship since 1948.
Jason Kipnis hit a three-run homer in his hometown and Carlos Santana connected for the first of his three hits as manager Terry Francona's team won for the second straight day at Wrigley Field.
Trevor Bauer gets the ball Sunday night when the visiting Indians try for the franchise's third World Series title against Jon Lester and the faltering Cubs.
"I think we like the position we're in, but the task isn't done yet," Kluber said. "We still have one more game to win, and we're going to show up tomorrow and play with the same sense of urgency we've played with until this point. We don't want to let them build up any momentum and let them get back in the series."
Still, not bad for a team that seemed like an underdog all year long.
The Indians topped the defending champion Royals and star-studded Tigers for the AL Central title, then came the postseason. No one thought they would beat Big Papi and Boston, outslug Toronto or ever end their drought before the charmed Cubs, who led the majors with 103 wins.
Well, look who is on the brink of hoisting the hardware.
"We've got one more to get and it's probably going to be the hardest victory of the year, but this is a special night for me and this team to take the first two here," said Kipnis, who grew up a Cubs fan on the north side of Chicago.
Kipnis had three hits and scored two runs as Cleveland moved to 10-2 in this postseason. Francisco Lindor contributed an RBI single, helping Francona improve to 11-1 in the World Series.
The Indians now will try to bring another crown to Cleveland, adding to the one LeBron James and the Cavaliers earned earlier this year.
"We have a ways to go. We're not done," Francona said.
Dexter Fowler doubled and scored in the first for the Cubs, and then homered against Andrew Miller in the eighth. Fowler's drive to left-center was the first homer for Chicago in the World Series since Phil Cavaretta connected in Game 1 in 1945 and the first run allowed by Miller during his dominant postseason.
In between Fowler's two hits, the Cubs came up empty every time they had a chance to put any pressure on Cleveland.
"So we made mistakes. Absolutely, we made mistakes tonight," manager Joe Maddon said. "That was part of it. But then again, we just have to do more offensively to give ourselves a chance."
The Indians won for the second straight day at Wrigley -- those two wins matched the Cubs' entire total of World Series victories in more than a century of playing at their famed ballpark.
"They're obviously doing something right, taking advantage of our mistakes and my mistakes," Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant said.
Pitching on three days' rest for the second time, Kluber allowed five hits, struck out six and walked one. The steady, stoic right-hander, who struck out nine in a dominant performance in Game 1, improved to 4-1 with a 0.89 ERA in five playoff starts this year.
Francona put Santana at first after starting him in left in Game 3, and Mike Napoli was out of the starting lineup for the time in the playoffs. And just like the rest of October, the decision worked out quite well for the Indians.
Santana led off the second with a drive to right against John Lackey, tying it at 1. Santana's third homer of the playoffs silenced the crowd of 41,706, and the Indians seized the momentum from there.
Two throwing errors on Bryant, including one on Kluber's infield single, led to an unearned run that put Cleveland ahead to stay. Kipnis connected for his second playoff homer in the seventh, pointing to his friends and family in the stands after powering the Indians to a 7-1 lead.
"We're mortals. We're baseball players. It's what we live for," Kipnis said. "At this kind of stage it's what we all dream about."
MORE ON KLUBER
Kluber's 0.89 ERA is the second-lowest for a single postseason for pitchers with at least 30 innings. Burt Hooton allowed three earned runs in 33 playoff innings for the 1981 Dodgers. Kluber is tied with Orel Hershiser (1995) for the Indians record for most strikeouts in a single postseason with 35.
"Just an unreal job by Kluber on three days' rest," Lindor said.
STEPPING UP
Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward made his first start of the World Series and responded with two hits. The 27-year-old Heyward, who signed a $184 million, eight-year contract with Chicago last winter, was just 2 for 31 in 12 playoff games coming into the night.
UP NEXT
Indians: Bauer lasted just 3 2/3 innings in Game 2, allowing two runs and six hits. The right-hander had a career-best 12 wins during the regular season, but is 0-1 with a 5.00 ERA in three playoff starts.
Cubs: Lester dropped to 3-1 with a 1.35 ERA in four career World Series starts when he allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings in the opener Tuesday night. The left-hander was the co-MVP of the NL Championship Series, going 1-0 with a 1.38 ERA in two starts against the Dodgers.
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Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Cleveland - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| John Lackey pitching for Chicago | CLE | CHC |
| Davis grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Kipnis struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Lindor struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Corey Kluber pitching for Cleveland | CLE | CHC |
| Fowler doubled to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Bryant popped out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Rizzo singled to right center, Fowler scored. | 0 | 1 |
| Zobrist flied out to center. | 0 | 1 |
| Rizzo stole second. | 0 | 1 |
| Contreras struck out swinging. | 0 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cleveland - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| John Lackey pitching for Chicago | CLE | CHC |
| Santana homered to right (383 feet). | 1 | 1 |
| Ramírez grounded out to first. | 1 | 1 |
| Chisenhall safe at first on throwing error by third baseman Bryant. | 1 | 1 |
| Pérez grounded out to pitcher, Chisenhall to second. | 1 | 1 |
| Naquin intentionally walked. | 1 | 1 |
| Kluber reached on infield single to third, Chisenhall scored, Naquin to third on throwing error by third baseman Bryant. | 2 | 1 |
| Davis grounded into fielder's choice to second, Kluber out at second. | 2 | 1 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 2 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Corey Kluber pitching for Cleveland | CLE | CHC |
| Russell lined out to right. | 2 | 1 |
| Heyward singled to right. | 2 | 1 |
| Báez grounded into double play to third, Heyward out at second. | 2 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cleveland - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| John Lackey pitching for Chicago | CLE | CHC |
| Kipnis doubled to right. | 2 | 1 |
| Lindor singled to right center, Kipnis scored. | 3 | 1 |
| Santana struck out swinging. | 3 | 1 |
| Ramírez grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, Lindor out at second. | 3 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Corey Kluber pitching for Cleveland | CLE | CHC |
| Lackey struck out looking. | 3 | 1 |
| Fowler grounded out to first. | 3 | 1 |
| Bryant walked. | 3 | 1 |
| Rizzo hit by pitch, Bryant to second. | 3 | 1 |
| Zobrist struck out swinging. | 3 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cleveland - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| John Lackey pitching for Chicago | CLE | CHC |
| Chisenhall flied out to right. | 3 | 1 |
| Pérez bunt grounded out to pitcher. | 3 | 1 |
| Naquin struck out swinging. | 3 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Corey Kluber pitching for Cleveland | CLE | CHC |
| Contreras struck out looking. | 3 | 1 |
| Russell flied out to center. | 3 | 1 |
| Heyward reached on infield single to shortstop. | 3 | 1 |
| Báez struck out swinging. | 3 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cleveland - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| John Lackey pitching for Chicago | CLE | CHC |
| Kluber struck out looking. | 3 | 1 |
| Davis grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 1 |
| Kipnis grounded out to shortstop. | 3 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Corey Kluber pitching for Cleveland | CLE | CHC |
| Coghlan hit for Lackey. | 3 | 1 |
| Coghlan flied out to left. | 3 | 1 |
| Fowler flied out to right. | 3 | 1 |
| Bryant grounded out to second. | 3 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cleveland - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Mike Montgomery pitching for Chicago | CLE | CHC |
| Montgomery relieved Lackey. | 3 | 1 |
| Lindor walked. | 3 | 1 |
| Santana reached on infield single to pitcher, Lindor to second. | 3 | 1 |
| Ramírez grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, Santana out at second, Lindor to third. | 3 | 1 |
| Chisenhall hit sacrifice fly to center, Lindor scored. | 4 | 1 |
| Pérez walked, Ramírez to second. | 4 | 1 |
| Guyer hit for Naquin. | 4 | 1 |
| Grimm relieved Montgomery. | 4 | 1 |
| Guyer struck out swinging. | 4 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Corey Kluber pitching for Cleveland | CLE | CHC |
| Davis in center field. | 4 | 1 |
| Guyer in left field. | 4 | 1 |
| Rizzo doubled to deep left center. | 4 | 1 |
| Zobrist flied out to left. | 4 | 1 |
| Contreras struck out swinging. | 4 | 1 |
| Russell grounded out to third. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cleveland - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Justin Grimm pitching for Chicago | CLE | CHC |
| Crisp hit for Kluber. | 4 | 1 |
| Crisp doubled to right center. | 4 | 1 |
| Crisp to third on wild pitch by Grimm. | 4 | 1 |
| Davis hit by pitch. | 4 | 1 |
| Wood relieved Grimm. | 4 | 1 |
| Kipnis homered to right (402 feet), Crisp and Davis scored. | 7 | 1 |
| Lindor grounded out to first. | 7 | 1 |
| Santana singled to shallow center. | 7 | 1 |
| Ramírez struck out swinging. | 7 | 1 |
| Chisenhall struck out swinging. | 7 | 1 |
| 3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Andrew Miller pitching for Cleveland | CLE | CHC |
| Miller relieved Kluber. | 7 | 1 |
| Napoli at first base. | 7 | 1 |
| Heyward grounded out to second. | 7 | 1 |
| Báez popped out to shortstop. | 7 | 1 |
| Almora Jr. hit for Wood. | 7 | 1 |
| Almora Jr. lined out to right. | 7 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cleveland - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Hector Rondon pitching for Chicago | CLE | CHC |
| Rondón relieved Wood. | 7 | 1 |
| Pérez struck out swinging. | 7 | 1 |
| Guyer grounded out to shortstop. | 7 | 1 |
| Napoli flied out to center. | 7 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Andrew Miller pitching for Cleveland | CLE | CHC |
| Fowler homered to left center (379 feet). | 7 | 2 |
| Bryant grounded out to second. | 7 | 2 |
| Rizzo struck out swinging. | 7 | 2 |
| Zobrist struck out swinging. | 7 | 2 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cleveland - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Hector Rondon pitching for Chicago | CLE | CHC |
| Davis lined out to left. | 7 | 2 |
| Kipnis singled to left. | 7 | 2 |
| Lindor singled to right, Kipnis to second. | 7 | 2 |
| Martínez hit for Miller. | 7 | 2 |
| Martínez struck out looking. | 7 | 2 |
| Ramírez lined out to center. | 7 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Chicago - Bottom of 9th | SCORE | |
| Dan Otero pitching for Cleveland | CLE | CHC |
| Otero relieved Miller. | 7 | 2 |
| Contreras grounded out to second. | 7 | 2 |
| Russell singled to center. | 7 | 2 |
| Heyward popped out to shortstop. | 7 | 2 |
| Báez grounded out to pitcher. | 7 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
Cleveland Indians
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Davis LF-CF | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | .091 | .231 | .182 |
| Kipnis 2B | 5 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 15 | .294 | .333 | .588 |
| Lindor SS | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 26 | .467 | .529 | .533 |
| Santana 1B | 4 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 16 | .273 | .467 | .545 |
Miller P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
c-Martínez PH
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
Otero P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Ramírez 3B | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 12 | .313 | .353 | .375 |
| Chisenhall RF | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 16 | .077 | .071 | .077 |
| Pérez C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 16 | .231 | .333 | .692 |
| Naquin CF | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 | .200 | .333 | .200 |
a-Guyer PH-LF
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | .200 | .500 | .200 |
| Kluber P | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 14 | .500 | .500 | .500 |
b-Crisp PH
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | .333 | .333 | .500 |
Napoli 1B
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .182 | .308 | .182 |
| Totals | 36 | 7 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 10 | 155 | |||
| a-struck out swinging for T Naquin in the 6th b-doubled to right center for C Kluber in the 7th c-struck out looking for A Miller in the 9th | ||||||||||
| BATTING 2B: Kipnis (2, Lackey); Crisp (1, Grimm) HR: Santana (1, 2nd inning off Lackey 0 on, 0 Out); Kipnis (1, 7th inning off Wood 2 on, 0 Out) RBI: Santana (1), Lindor (1), Chisenhall (1), Kipnis 3 (3) SF: Chisenhall GIDP: Ramírez Indians RISP: 3-8 (Kipnis 1-1, Davis 0-1, Kluber 1-1, Guyer 0-1, Ramírez 0-2, Martínez 0-1, Lindor 1-1) Team LOB: 7 | ||||||||||
| FIELDING DP: 1 (Ramírez-Kipnis-Santana). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Wrigley Field, Chicago, IL |
| Attendance | 41,706 (101.9% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 3:16 |
| Weather | 59 degrees, cloudy |
| Wind | 7 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Marvin Hudson, First Base - Tony Randazzo, Second Base - Joe West, Third Base - Sam Holbrook, Left Field - Chris Guccione, Right Field - John Hirschbeck |
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