Cleveland Indians One Win Away From World Championship

The Cleveland Indians beat the Chicago Cubs 7-2 in Game Five, taking a 3-1 lead in the World Series. The Tribe is just one win away from a championship.

The “Other Guys” did what they had to do, as the Cleveland Indians used another quality start from Corey Kluber and a relative offensive explosion to defeat the Chicago Cubs by a score of 7-2 to take a commanding 3-1 lead in the World Series.

After Chicago took an early lead on two softly-hit balls in the first inning, Cleveland took control, and now find themselves one win away from a World Series championship.

Carlos Santana’s second inning solo home run tied things up, and a Kluber swinging bunt resulted in the Tribe taking the lead later in the inning. RBIs from Francisco Lindor on a single in the third and Lonnie Chisenhall on a sacrifice fly in the sixth pushed that lead out to 4-1, before a Jason Kipnis three-run home run put things away for good.

There will be one more game played at Wrigley Field in Chicago before the series shifts once again, if necessary, to Cleveland. The year of Cleveland Against the World just keeps getting better.

Kluber on Short Rest

This was the second time that Kluber has started on three days’ rest, and unlike his outing against the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Championship Series, he was spotless on this night.

What Kluber has done in the postseason in 2016 has been beyond impressive.

In this World Series, the Indians’ ace has thrown 12 innings, allowing one run on nine hits while striking out 15. If the series should somehow be stretched to seven games, expect Kluber to be on the mound.

Kipnis Loves Chicago

That Kipnis is a Chicago native is a narrative that has been talked to death over the past week, and the Cleveland second baseman has struggled in the Fall Classic against his childhood team. Through the first three games of the series, he was 2-for-12 with a double.

Kipnis broke out something fierce in Game Four, with a single, a double, a home run, and three runs driven in. His seventh inning homer was the dagger in this one.

The last two players that hit three-run home runs against Chicago in a World Series at Wrigley Field? Two guys named Jimmie Foxx and Babe Ruth. Wonder what happened to those guys?

While it’s been well-publicized that Kipnis lived not far from the infamous Steve Bartman, his performance in Game Four may have done more damage to the dreams of Cubs fans than one fan-assisted foul ball ever could.

A Night Off for Chicken

Cody Allen did not have to pitch in this one, nor did Bryan Shaw. While Andrew Miller threw 27 pitches over two innings and Dan Otero tossed 15 of his own, everyone in the Indians’ bullpen should be available in Game Five.

Next: Tribe Winning With National League Style

That puts the pressure on the Cubs to try to get to Trevor Bauer early, because a Tribe lead after the first four or five innings will likely mean a shortened game. As Cleveland has shown game after game this postseason, the opposition does not want to see this bullpen. If the Indians have a lead after five, the preparations for a parade are likely to get underway.