Perez homers twice to power Indians past Cubs

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Roberto Perez homered twice and Corey Kluber pitched six scoreless innings to help the Cleveland Indians rout the Chicago Cubs, 6-0, in game one of the World Series Tuesday night.

The Tribe jumped on Cubs ace John Lester early, plating a pair of runs in the bottom of the first. Jose Ramirez scored Francisco Lindor on an infield single, and Mike Napoli crossed home plate after Brandon Guyer was hit by a Lester pitch with the bases loaded.

The game turned into the Roberto Perez Show the rest of the way. The catcher, who is hitting just .183 on the season, belted a solo home run in the fourth and a three-run bomb in the eighth to put the game out of reach. Perez became the first Indian to hit multiple home runs in a World Series game. He is also the first nine-hole hitter to belt two homers on the grandest stage in baseball.

Kluber and the Indians’ bullpen were equally impressive on the mound. Star reliever Andrew Miller and closer Cody Allen combined with Kluber to concede just seven hits while striking out 15 batters. Kluber’s eight strikeouts through the first three innings set a World Series record, and Miller continued his red-hot postseason by fanning three batters in two innings of work.

Cleveland’s shutout of the Cubs is the first of its kind in game one of the World Series since 1990. Lester, who entered the night a perfect 3-0 in three World Series starts, gave up six hits and three earned runs in 5 2/3 innings of work to pick up the loss.

Trevor Bauer will start for the Indians in game two opposite Chicago’s Jake Arrieta Wednesday night. First pitch is set for 7 p.m. from Progressive Field.