Cubs
deliver in Cleveland to level World Series
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[October 27, 2016]
CLEVELAND (Reuters) - Chicago's
Jake Arrieta was almost unhittable and the middle of the Cubs lineup
delivered at the plate in a 5-1 Game Two win over the Cleveland
Indians on Wednesday which leveled the best-of-seven World Series.
Dazzling Cy Young winner Arrieta used his repertoire of fastballs,
cutters, sinkers and sliders to baffle the Indians as he threw 5-1/3
innings of no-hit ball before Jason Kipnis doubled with one out in
the sixth.
While Cubs manager Joe Maddon hailed his "great stuff", Arrieta said
he had focused on throwing with less effort.
"I wanted to come out and pitch my game. I tried not to pitch with
over-effort, trying to take my foot off the gas a little bit and
throw some quality breaking stuff," said Arrieta.
"I was able to spin the ball in the zone, and in and out of the zone
well and keep them off balance with the sinker pretty much all
night."
Arrieta and relievers Mike Montgomery and Aroldis Chapman combined
on a four-hitter on a chilly night on the shores of Lake Erie to
ensure the Cubs headed back to Chicago for the next three games with
the series all square.
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Anthony Rizzo, Ben Zobrist and Kyle Schwarber, the numbers three
through five hitters in Chicago's lineup, combined for five hits,
four runs scored and four runs batted in after the hard-hitting Cubs
were blanked 6-0 in Game One in Cleveland.
In contrast to the overpowering pitching from the Cubs, Cleveland
used six relievers after removing starter Trevor Bauer in the
fourth. The seven Indians pitchers issued a combined nine hits and
eight walks with the normally reliable second baseman Kipnis making
two errors.
"There was traffic all night," Indians manager Terry Francona said
of all the baserunners for the Cubs. "For us to win, we generally
need to play a clean game and we didn’t do that."
FIRST RUN
After being shut out in the opener, the Cubs scored their first run
of the World Series in the first inning.
Kris Bryant, who before the game received the National League Hank
Aaron Award as most outstanding offensive player, stroked a one-out
single and dashed around the bases to score when Anthony Rizzo
followed with a double to right.
Chicago extended their lead to 2-0 after two outs in the third.
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![](../images/102716PICS/sports57.jpg)
Chicago Cubs players Ben Zobrist and Jason Heyward celebrate after
defeating the Cleveland Indians in game two of the 2016 World Series
at Progressive Field. Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
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Rizzo fell behind 0-2 but worked a walk and Zobrist, who had three
hits in Game One, singled up the middle.
Facing a 3-0 pitch from Bauer, slugger Kyle Schwarber was given the
green light and drilled a single to center to score Rizzo and double
Chicago's advantage.
The Cubs sent nine batters to the plate in a three-run fifth that
broke the game open, with the middle of the lineup coming through
again.
Rizzo walked and scored when Zobrist tripled into the right-field
corner off Zach McAllister before Schwarber singled home Zobrist.
The Cubs tacked on another run when Bryan Shaw walked Addison
Russell with the bases loaded to make it 5-0.
Arrieta, who threw the only no-hitter in the majors this season,
gave up Cleveland's lone run in the sixth, when his wild pitch
scored Kipnis from third. After Mike Napoli singled for the second
hit off him, the right-hander was lifted.
Montgomery went two scoreless innings and fireballing Chapman got
the last four outs to secure Chicago's first World Series win since
1945.
With the Fall Classic shifting to Wrigley Field, the Cubs on Friday
will host their first World Series game in 71 years with Kyle
Hendricks taking the mound against Cleveland's Josh Tomlin.
(Writing by Larry Fine in New York; Editing by Steve Keating/Nick
Mulvenney)
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