Perez became only the fifth catcher in World Series history
to hit two homers in a single game, joining Hall-of-Famers Yogi
Berra (1956), Johnny Bench (1976) and Gary Carter (1986), as
well as Gene Tenace (1972). "I was controlling my emotions, I
think that was a big part of it," Perez told reporters. "It has
been an unbelievable night. I can't describe the words right
now." Chicago will look to even the series with Jake Arrieta on
the mound and also will need some of its other key offensive
players to join Ben Zobrist (3-for-4) in swinging the bat well.
"I was not disappointed," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said in his
postgame press conference. "I know we had 15 punch-outs, I get
it, but the quality of the at-bats were not that bad."
TV: 7:08 p.m. ET, FOX
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cubs RH Jake Arrieta (0-1, 4.91 ERA) vs.
Indians RH Trevor Bauer (0-0, 5.06)
Arrieta has given up four runs in three of his five career
postseason starts, but he believes he's getting more comfortable
with the higher-pressure stage. "I think what you really learn
with the more experience you get in the postseason is the finer
details, controlling the running game, not allowing mental
mistakes and not allowing your opponent to capitalize on your
mental mistakes," Arrieta said during a press conference.
"Because, obviously, at this point in the season, the team that
makes the fewest mistakes typically wins the ballgames." Arrieta
started one game at Progressive Field as a member of the
Baltimore Orioles and picked up the win despite allowing six
runs - five earned - and six hits in six innings of a 14-8
victory on Aug. 10, 2010.
Bauer badly cut his right pinkie finger while working on his
drone on Oct. 14 and had to leave his Game 3 start in the
American League Championship Series against Toronto in the first
inning three nights later as the finger began bleeding
profusely. He said the cut now is healed and he tested the
finger by throwing 20 pitches on Monday without incident. "Threw
it with max intent, just like in a game, as close to game
intensity as I could possibly get to," Bauer said during a press
conference. "There's no pain, no blood. I was able to execute
all my pitches to a high level, and I'm really encouraged by
it."
WALK-OFFS
1. Wednesday's start time was moved up one hour due to the
threat of rain.
2. Chicago OF Kyle Schwarber (knee) was activated after being
out since early April and went 1-for-3 with a walk and two
strikeouts.
3. Cleveland SS Francisco Lindor recorded three hits in Game 1
and is batting .371 in 35 postseason at-bats.
PREDICTION: Indians 5, Cubs 3
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