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Roberto Perez #55 of the Cleveland Indians hits a three-run home run during the eighth inning against the Chicago Cubs in Game One of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field on October 25, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. AFP

Indians take first blood in World Series opener with 6-0 win over Cubs

Winners of Game 1 have won 17 of last 19 World Series

Cleveland beat the Chicago Cubs 6-0 in the opening game of the World Series, led by six scoreless innings from starting pitcher Corey Kluber and two home runs from an unexpected source in catcher Roberto Perez.

In a match of teams with the majors’ longest championship droughts – Cleveland last won the World Series in 1948 and the Cubs way back in 1908 – the Indians scored twice in the first inning off Cubs ace Jon Lester and were on their way.

Chicago did threaten a comeback in the seventh inning. Trailing 3-0, the Cubs loaded the bases with no outs but Indians reliever Andrew Miller escaped the jam with a couple of strikeouts.

Miller allowed another two base runners in the eighth but again got out of strife to maintain the three-run buffer.

In the bottom of the eighth, Perez hit a three-run homer to effectively seal the win. He became the first No.9 hitter in a batting order to clear the fences twice in a World Series game.

The Game 1 winner has taken the title in all of the past six World 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.”

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

Trevor Bauer, trying to come back from a deep cut on the little finger of his pitching hand, will start Game 2 for the Indians against Chicago’s Jake Arrieta. Because the forecast called for an increased chance of rain later in the evening, Major League Baseball moved the start forward by an hour to 7:08 p.m. local time.

Kluber struck out eight in the first three innings. He combined with relievers Miller and Cody Allen to fan 15.

Lester, who had been 3-0 in three World Series starts with a superb earned run average of 0.43, stumbled in the opening inning. Cleveland loaded the bases with two outs, Jose Ramirez had a run-scoring swinging bunt single and Brandon Guyer was hit by a pitch to make it 2-0.

“When you’re going against a guy like Kluber who’s locked in from pitch one, to give up two in the first, that makes it tough,” Lester said.

Perez, who had just three homers in 153 at-bats during the regular season, connected in the fourth for a 3-0 lead. His drive in the eighth was his third homer this postseason.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a night like that,” Perez said.“I’ve come a long ways. I’m just playing with a lot of confidence right now.”

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: Indians pitch-perfect in opener
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