Cleveland Indians: Cold Bats Lead to Loss Against Cubs
The Cleveland Indians had a rough night at the plate, as the Chicago Cubs evened up the World Series.
It was a cold night at Progressive Field on Wednesday for the second game of the World Series, and I’m not talking about the weather. The Cleveland Indians were ice cold at the plate, scoring one run on just four hits, as the Chicago Cubs grabbed a 5-1 win.
Chicago starter Jake Arrieta held Cleveland without a hit for the first 5.1 innings of the game, and the Cubs got to Indians’ starter Trevor Bauer and the bullpen a day after being shutout by the trio of Corey Kluber, Andrew Miller, and Cody Allen.
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Kyle Schwarber, who hadn’t played since the third game of the season after suffering torn ligaments in his knee, made his second start as Chicago’s designated hitter and delivered two RBI singles. The Indiana University product is now 3-for-7 against Tribe pitching.
Bauer, who had to leave his last start during the American League Championship Series against Toronto after throwing only 26 pitches due to the lacerated pinky finger he suffered repairing a drone, struggled with his command all night. He last just 3.2 innings, throwing 87 pitches, and left with his team behind 2-0.
The Cleveland bullpen, which has been the most dominant relief corps in baseball during the postseason, was touched up for three additional runs, giving the Cubs a lead that could not be overcome. Zach McAllister, Bryan Shaw, and Jeff Manship were unable to keep the Cubs from expanding their lead.
Arrieta did not have his usual command, either, but was effectively wild. The 2015 National League Cy Young award winner allowed just one run on two hits with three walks and six strikeouts in his 5.2 innings of work. It wasn’t until Jason Kipnis doubled with one out in the sixth inning that the Indians were able to square one up against the 30-year old right-hander.
Mike Montgomery and Aroldis Chapman shut the Tribe down for the final 3.1 innings, sending the Fall Classic to Chicago’s Wrigley Field all tied up 1-1.
Cleveland will send Josh Tomlin to the mound for Friday night’s Game Three, which is scheduled to get started at 8:00 p.m. ET. 2016 Cy Young hopeful Kyle Hendricks will be on the bump for the Cubs, fresh off 7.1 innings of two-hit, shutout ball in the clinching game of the NLCS against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Tomlin has allowed three runs in 10.2 postseason innings, striking out 10 while walking three.
No one expected this World Series would end with a sweep, but Cleveland now has some work to do after having home-field advantage busted. With three games in Chicago, the Cubs have the opportunity to close out the series. But the Indians were the only team in Major League Baseball not to drop four in a row all season long, and fans should expect that this Fall Classic will be returning to the corner of Carnegie and Ontario.
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