The Indians are on the brink of winning their first World Series in 68 years.
Cleveland took a 3-1 series lead over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday behind a dominant start from Corey Kluber. The right-hander threw six innings of one-run ball in a 7-2 win, Kluber’s second victory of the series already.
The Cubs jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Dexter Fowler hit a leadoff double and first baseman Anthony Rizzo brought the center fielder home with a one-out single. But it didn’t take the Indians long to strike back, as Cleveland first baseman Carlos Santana hit a solo home run off starter John Lackey to lead off the top of the second.
Kluber then helped his own cause by hitting an RBI single to give the Indians a lead they wouldn’t let go of. Cleveland added a single run in the third and sixth innings before second baseman and Chicago native Jason Kipnis piled it on the Cubs with a three-run homer off reliever Travis Wood.
The Cubs tried to make some noise when Fowler hit his own leadoff homer in the eighth off Andrew Miller — it was the first run the lefty allowed in the entire postseason — but it went for naught. Chicago will face elimination in Game 5 on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET at Wrigley Field.
Thumbnail photo via Jerry Lai/USA TODAY Sports Images