After the Cleveland Cavaliers unveiled their NBA championship banner in the season opener against the New York Knicks Tuesday night, the Cleveland Indians were looking to do the same as the program looks for its first MLB title since 1948.
After their performance in Game 1, the Indians are well on their way as Corey Kluber, the 2014 American League Cy Young Award winner, pitched nearly a perfect game to lead Cleveland to a 6-0 victory over Chicago at Progressive Field. The sellout crowd made history as it was Cleveland’s first-ever World Series home opener.
Kluber dominated into the seventh inning, and broke the record for strikeouts in a World Series game. After just three innings, Kluber had eight strikeouts to break the previous record (7) which was held by Randy Johnson, Bob Gibson, and Orlando Hernandez.
Kluber, whose win in the All-Star Game gave the AL home-field advantage in the Series, improved to 3-1 in the postseason and lowered his ERA to 0.74.
Catcher Roberto Perez had four RBI, including two home runs to lead the Indians on offense. Perez’s three home runs this postseason equals the same number he had in the entire regular season.
Here's Hammy's call of @robperez2015's second blast, a three-run shot that put the game away! #RallyTogether pic.twitter.com/3U2tgE2XiX
— #VoteTribe 5x a day (@Indians) October 26, 2016
“It’s almost like you have that extra level of intensity,” Kluber told reporters after the game.
After playing arguably its best game of the season Saturday against the Dodgers to advance to the World Series, the Cubs came out flat and never really made it much of a game.
Impressively, the Indians pitched their fourth shutout in nine games this postseason which also tied a record.
The @Indians staff is pitching at a historically great level. #MLBTonight #WorldSeries pic.twitter.com/c0jRYUmNON
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 26, 2016
Note: The Game 1 winner has taken home the championship over the last six years and 17 of the last 19.
