The Cleveland Indians had home-field advantage entering the World Series because the American League won the 2016 All-Star Game, but the Chicago Cubs seized it Wednesday with a 5-1 victory in Game 2 at Progressive Field.
The series is tied at one game apiece thanks to a strong pitching performance from Chicago.
Starter Jake Arrieta took a no-hitter into the sixth and allowed just one earned run and two hits in 5.2 innings of work. Mike Montgomery and Aroldis Chapman combined to close the door with 3.1 innings of scoreless work out of the bullpen.
Cleveland didn't get nearly as much from its staff. Trevor Bauer started and lasted just 3.2 innings while allowing two earned runs and six hits. It was an improvement from Game 3 of the American League Championship Series when he pitched only 0.2 innings before leaving because a laceration on the pinkie finger of his pitching hand was bleeding on his uniform and the ball.
Zach McAllister also gave up two earned runs from Cleveland's bullpen.
Kyle Schwarber and Ben Zobrist led the offensive attack for the Cubs with two hits apiece. Schwarber tallied two RBI and scored a run, while Zobrist scored and added an RBI of his own. Anthony Rizzo and Addison Russell also tallied RBI on Wednesday.
The Cubs could have scored more, but they left 13 runners on base, per MLB.com.
Cleveland received two hits from Mike Napoli and a run from Jason Kipnis, but its offense managed just four hits all game.
The Cubs scored their first World Series run in 71 years in the first inning, when Kris Bryant singled and scored on Rizzo's double. David Schuster of 670 The Score in Chicago noted it was an important start for the Cubs after being shut out in Game 1 against Corey Kluber, Andrew Miller and Cody Allen:
Cleveland battled back with two walks in the bottom of the frame, but Arrieta escaped the jam with a deep flyout from Jose Ramirez.
Chicago got to Bauer again in the third when Rizzo walked, advanced to second on Zobrist's single and scored on Schwarber's hit. Schwarber tore his ACL and LCL in April and was expected to miss the season, but he battled back for the Fall Classic and made his presence known in Game 2.
Jason Goff of 670 The Score in Chicago reacted to Schwarber's remarkable comeback:
The Cubs drove Bauer from the game in the fourth after he walked Willson Contreras and allowed a single to Russell, but he did induce a double play from Jorge Soler following Contreras' free pass to prevent a costly rally.
On the other side, Arrieta didn't allow a hit through the first four innings despite three walks. Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic reacted to his start:
Chicago provided him with additional run support in the fifth, when Rizzo walked and scored on a hit down the line from Zobrist. Right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall slipped on the play, which allowed Rizzo to score easily and Zobrist to advance to third.
Schwarber tacked another on with an RBI single, and Russell drew a walk with the bases loaded to make it 5-0 after a Kipnis error extended the inning.
Tom Fornelli of CBSSports.com was already looking ahead to Game 3 at Wrigley Field, where designated hitting won't be an option for Schwarber:
The Indians had a comeback story of their own in the sixth, when Danny Salazar worked a scoreless frame out of the bullpen. It was his first appearance since Sept. 9 after he suffered an elbow injury.
Cleveland finally got a hit off Arrieta in the bottom of the sixth, when Kipnis drove one up the middle. Christopher Kamka of CSN Chicago put the starter's performance into historical context:
Kipnis advanced to third on Francisco Lindor's groundout and scored on a wild pitch from Arrieta. Cubs manager Joe Maddon removed his starter from the game after he allowed a hit to Napoli, and Montgomery ended the rally by inducing a groundout.
Chicago had the opportunity to break things open in the seventh with bases loaded and one out for Bryant, but Dan Otero entered for the Indians and retired the potential National League MVP with a fielder's choice. He got Rizzo out as well and kept Cleveland within striking distance at 5-1.
The Indians threatened in the seventh with two runners on and two outs, but Montgomery struck out Carlos Santana. The Cubs reacted to the clutch performance on Twitter:
Montgomery also recorded two outs in the eighth but handed the ball to Chapman after allowing a hit to Napoli. The fireballer struck out Ramirez and sent the game to the ninth, where he retired the side to even the series.
What's Next?
The Cubs have the opportunity to win the series at home with Games 3, 4 and 5 all at Wrigley Field, but all Cleveland has to do is win one road game to get home-field advantage back.
Game 3 is Friday, and Chicago will send Cy Young Award candidate Kyle Hendricks to the mound. He finished the season with a 2.13 ERA and 0.98 WHIP and pitched a gem against Clayton Kershaw in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series with 7.1 scoreless innings and just two hits allowed.
The Indians will counter with Josh Tomlin, who posted a 4.40 ERA and 1.19 WHIP during the regular season. He has been better in his two postseason starts with just three earned runs in 10.2 innings.
While Chicago has the advantage on paper with the pitching matchup in Game 3, Cleveland has Kluber looming for Game 4 and possibly Game 7 if the series goes the distance. All it would take is one win with someone else on the mound at Wrigley to swing that advantage the Indians' way.
Postgame Reaction
Cleveland manager Terry Francona underscored just how cold it was Wednesday, via the Indians:
He also talked about Schwarber’s performance, per Jon Morosi of MLB Network: "He's really good. I can see why Theo sent a plane for him. I would have, too."
Schwarber put things in perspective, per CSN Chicago's Cubs Talk: "This is the moment you dream of as kids: Playing in the World Series and winning."
He was also asked if he will play in Games 3-5 when there is no designated hitter and said, per Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune, "We'll see where it goes. Nothing set in stone."
Dexter Fowler responded to the realization the Cubs won their first World Series game since 1945, per Gonzales: "Y'all talk history. We’re just trying to make it."
Chicago is three wins away from doing just that.
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