Indians Club Cubs

We don’t hear the expression “battery” much anymore in reference to the pitcher and catcher, but the pitcher and catcher committed battery on Tuesday night in Game 1 of the World Series.

Cleveland Indians pitcher Corey Kluber struck out eight in the first three innings – a World Series record – and catcher Roberto Perez hit a pair of homers to drive in four runs in a 6-0 beating of the Chicago Cubs at Cleveland’s Progressive Field.

“It was the Kluber and Perez show,” said Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor, who had three hits.

Not far away from this ballpark, the Cleveland Cavaliers opened the NBA season with a 117-88 pounding of the New York Knicks at Quicken Loans Arena on the night they received their championship rings. Cleveland, indeed, rocks.

The shutout was the first in a World Series opener since 1990 and Cleveland’s first win in the World Series since Game 6 in 1997. The Cubs? Ah, the wait goes on. Their last World Series win was also in Game 6…in 1945.

Game 2 on Wednesday night was moved up an hour by Major League Baseball because of expected inclement weather expected later in the evening. So the first pitch is now scheduled for 7:08 p.m. ET. The game will be televised by Fox.

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Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman