FINAL: Indians 6, Cubs 0; Kluber, Miller deal Cubs a Game 1 loss

Cubs fans waited 71 years for this?

The Cubs were completely outmatched by pitchers Corey Kluber and Andrew Miller in a 6-0 loss in Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday in Cleveland.

Kluber scattered four hits over six innings and struck out nine. He made World Series history by striking out eight batters through three innings. He struck out the side in the second and third.

The Cubs had their chances against Miller, though. They loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh and had runners on the corners with two outs in the eighth. The Cubs came up empty both times.

Cubs starter Jon Lester got off to a rocky start by giving up two runs in the first inning, all coming with two outs. He settled in and lasted 5 2/3 innings, allowing three runs.

The top third of the Cubs lineup — Dexter Fowler, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo — went a combined 0 for 11.

Indians manager Terry Francona is now 9-0 as a manager in the World Series.

Game 2 of the series has been moved up an hour to 6:08 p.m. CT Wednesday due to forecasts of inclement weather.

Bottom Eighth: Roberto Perez hit his second home run of the night, a three-run bomb to left, to give the Indians a 6-0 lead.

The home run came against Hector Rondon, who didn’t even need to turn around to know the ball was gone.

Rondon is the fifth Cubs pitcher of the game.

Perez also hit a solo home run in the fourth. His eighth-inning home run came after a two-out rally.

End eighth: Indians 6, Cubs 0

Due up for Cubs: Baez, Willson, Russell

Top Eighth: The Cubs got a second chance to make up for their failed seventh and still managed to come up empty.

Kris Bryant drew a one-out walk, and Ben Zobrist later singled to put runners on the corners. But Andrew Miller struck out Kyle Scharber to end the inning and leave the Cubs down to three outs.

The Indians can pad their lead with the lower half of the order in the bottom half of the eighth.

Middle eighth: Indians 3, Cubs 0

Due up for Indians: Santana, Ramire, Guyer

Bottom Seventh: Travis Wood replaced Pedro Strop with an out in the seventh and managed to get out of the inning unscathed despite a double to Francisco Lindor.

Lindor is now 3 for 4 tonight two singles, a double, a stolen base and a run scored.

The Cubs have six outs remaining to get the four runs they need to win this game. The top third of the order is coming up next and, as a reminder, Fowler, Bryant and Rizzo are 0 for 9 tonight.

End seventh: Indians 3, Cubs 0

Due up for Cubs: Fowler, Bryant, Rizzo

Top Seventh: The game is not over yet, but the seventh inning could well be the one that buries the Cubs tonight.

After putting together their first string of baserunners, the Cubs loaded the bases with no outs and failed to score a single run.

Ben Zobrist led off with a single to chase Corey Kluber from the game. Andrew Miller came on and walked Kyle Schwarber before giving up a single to Javy Baez, loading the bases with nobody out.

Chris Coghlan flew out to shallow center, and Miller struck out Addison Russell and David Ross to retire the side without any damage.

It’s hard to imagine the Cubs getting another opportunity like this, but they proved the world wrong in Game 4 of the NLDS when that looked lost, too.

Middle seventh: Indians 3, Cubs 0

Due up for Indians:Davis, Kipnis, Lindor

Bottom Sixth: Jon Lester gave up a leadoff double to Jose Ramirez, who now has three hits tonight.

He retired the next two batters, and then Joe Maddon decided to make a change. Pedro Strop came in and struck out Roberto Perez to retire the side.

Final line on Lester: 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 6 H, 3 BB, 7 K. He threw 97 pitches and 57 for strikes.

Corey Kluber is back out for the seventh inning with 85 pitches thrown tonight. Andrew Miller is warm and ready to go when he gets the nod from Terry Francona.

End sixth: Indians 3, Cubs 0

Due up for Cubs: Zobrist, Schwarber, Baez

Top Sixth: Still silence from Cubs bats.

Dexter Fowler, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo went down in order against Corey Kluber, making the top third of the Cubs’ lineup 0 for 9 tonight.

Fowler grounded out weakly to second, and Bryant and Rizzo both popped out to the catcher. It was about as feeble an offensive inning as is possible.

Andrew Miller is waiting to come in for the Indians, so things aren’t likely to get much easier when Kluber departs.

Middle sixth: Indians 3, Cubs 0

Due up for Indians: Ramirez, Guyer, Chisenhall

Bottom Fifth: Jon Lester may have finally settled in.

The left-hander went 1-2-3 here in the fifth and struck out the last two batters he faced. He’s up to 86 pitches, which means he’s likely to get at least one more inning of work.

He could sure use some help from the offense, which has been hapless against Corey Kluber. The top of the order is due up for the Cubs, and neither Dexter Fowler, Kris Bryant or Anthony Rizzo have reached base tonight.

Andrew Miller is warming up for the Indians.

End fifth: Indians 3, Cubs 0

Due up for Cubs: Fowler, Bryant, Rizzo

Top Fifth: We’re halfway through Game 1 of the World Series, and it’s been The Corey Kluber Show so far.

Kluber hurled a 1-2-3 fifth inning and notched his ninth strikeout — sixth looking.

Kluber’s line through four: 4 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 9 K, 73 pitches.

Jon Lester is headed back out for the bottom of the fifth.

Middle fifth: Indians 3, Cubs 0

Due up for Indians: Lindor, Napoli, Santana

Bottom Fourth: With one out in the fourth, Roberto Perez sent Jon Lester’s 0-1 pitch over the left-field wall for a solo home run to give the Indians a 3-0 lead.

Lester is up to 71 pitches through four innings of work.

The offense, meanwhile, has three hits against Kluber — two of which were doubles that didn’t amount to anything.

End fourth: Indians 3, Cubs 0

Due up for Cubs: Coghlan, Russell, Ross

Top Fourth: Kyle Schwarber, playing in his first game since April 7, blasted a double to right field that fell one foot shy of a home run.

It was his first hit of the 2016 season.

No other Cubs batters reached base in the inning, but Schwarber’s double was the first real positive sign of this game.

Middle fourth: Indians 2, Cubs 0

Due up for Indians: Chisenhall, Perez, Davis

Bottom Third: It wasn’t pretty, but Jon Lester managed to escape the third inning without any damage.

He gave up a leadoff single to Francisco Lindor, who seems to have Lester’s number. But David Ross caught Lindor stealing after a swift tag by Javier Baez.

Lester walked Carlos Santana and gave up a single to Jose Ramirez before striking out Brandon Guyer for the final out.

Through three innings, Lester has allowed two runs on four hits and three walks. He’s also got three strikeouts.

Lester had a bit of an embarrassing moment when he had Lindor picked off at first but couldn’t make the throw. His inability to do so has been well documented.

End third: Indians 2, Cubs 0

Due up for Cubs: Rizzo, Zobrist, Schwarber

Top Third: Corey Kluber is making World Series history, and the Cubs are on the wrong side of it.

Kluber has eight strikeouts through three innings, a World Series record.

No pitcher had ever struck out the side in the World Series until tonight, according to the FOX broadcast. Kluber did it in both the second and third innings. He struck out four in a row between the second and third.

Kluber has struck out Cubs leadoff man Dexter Fowler twice and MVP frontrunner Kris Bryant twice.

Middle third: Indians 2, Cubs 0

Due up for Indians: Lindor, Napoli, Santana

Bottom Second: Cubs fans can breathe a sigh of relief.

Jon Lester tossed 1-2-3 inning in the second to retire Roberto Perez, Rajai Davis and Jason Kipnis in order.

That solves one of the Cubs’ glaring problems early in this game. Now they just need to figure out Corey Kluber…

End second: Indians 2, Cubs 0

Due up for Cubs: Russell, Ross, Fowler

Top Second: All signs point to this being a long game for Cubs fans.

After a leadoff double by Ben Zobrist, Corey Kluber struck out the Cubs in order.

Kyle Schwarber, playing in his third game of the season, struck out swinging after earning a 3-1 count. Kluber struck out Javy Baez and Chris Coghlan looking.

The three strikeouts wasted a nice at-bat by Zobrist, who doubled after falling behind 0-2.

Jon Lester is headed back to the mound, and we’ll see if he’s settled in after a rocky first inning.

Middle second: Indians 2, Cubs 0

Due up for Indians: Perez, Davis, Kipnis

Bottom First: Francisco Lindor notched the first hit, stolen base and run of this World Series with two outs here in the first.

Jose Ramirez hit an infield single to score the first run of the game and give the Indians a 1-0 lead. Jon Lester then hit Brandon Guyer with a pitch to drive in a second run.

After recording two outs on five pitches, Lester gave up a single to Lindor, who stole second. Lester then walked Mike Napoli and Carlos Santana before Ramirez’s infield single.

So far this game is off to the worst kind of start for the Cubs — no hits and a 1-2-3 top of the first inning followed by two runs allowed in the bottom half.

Lester threw 26 pitches in the first inning.

End first: Indians 2, Cubs 0

Due up for Cubs: Zobrist, Schwarber, Baez

Top First: Perhaps some nerves showing in the top of the first for the Cubs?

Dexter Fowler, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo went down in order against Corey Kluber, with Fowler and Bryant both striking out looking.

Facing a full count, Bryant was four steps toward first before home-plate umpire Larry Vanover called him out on strikes. Kluber jammed Rizzo, who popped out to shortstop.

Quick inning for Kluber.

Middle first: Cubs 0, Indians 0

Due up for Indians: Davis, Kipnis, Lindor

Kyle Schwarber will make his return to the Cubs lineup on the biggest stage possible tonight.

The Cubs are ready for their first World Series since 1945 and will begin Game 1 in Cleveland at 7:08 p.m. CT. The game will be telecast on FOX.

Schwarber returns to the team a little more than six months since ACL surgery in April. He hit several bombs during batting practice and looked every bit the power-hitting slugger the Cubs are expecting him to be this series.

He’ll bat fifth and be the designated hitter.

Here’s what’s on deck:

Jon Lester (1-0, 1.38 ERA in postseason) will square off against Corey Kluber (1-1, 1.59 ERA)

Lineups:

Cubs

1. Dexter Fowler, CF; 2. Kris Bryant, 3B; 3. Anthony Rizzo, 3B; 4. Ben Zobrist, LF; 5. Kyle Schwarber, DH; 6. Javier Baez, 2B; 7. Chris Coghlan, RF; 8. Addison Russell, SS; 9. David Ross, C

Indians

1. Rajai Davis, CF; 2. Jason Kipnis, 2B; 3. Francisco Lindor, SS; 4. Mike Napoli, 1B; 5. Carlos Santana, DH; 6. Jose Ramirez, 3B; 7. Brandon Guyer, LF; 8. Lonnie Chisenhall, RF; 9. Roberto Perez, C