Starting pitchers tonight were righthander Kyle Hendricks (Chicago) and righthander Josh Tomlin (Cleveland).
The 26-year old Hendricks made his Major League-debut in 2014 for the Cubs.
This season, he was 16-8 with a 2.13 ERA in 31 games (30 starts) and struckout 170 batters in 190 innings, walking only 44.
In the postseason, Hendricks started in three games, all at home at Wrigley Field.
He started Game 2 of the NLDS against San Francisco Giants, but then had a no-decision, giving up four hits and two runs in 3 2/3 inning.
Hendricks then also started Game 2 of the NLCS against Los Angeles Dodgers and was the losing pitcher.
In that game, he struckout five batters, but also walked four, while giving up three hits in 5 1/3 inning.
Six days later, Hendricks was the starting and winning pitcher in Game 6 against the Dodgers.
He dominated in 7 1/3 inning, struckout six batters and gave up only two hits in the game in which the Cubs won the Series to return to the World Series after 71 years.
Hendricks never before pitched against Cleveland.
The 32-year old Tomlin plays in the Major League since 2010 and has been playing for the Indians from the beginning.
This season, Tomlin was 13-9 with a 4.40 ERA.
He struckout 118 batters in 174 innings, pitching in 30 games (29 starts).
Tomlin pitched twice in this postseason.
He was the starting and winning pitcher in Game 3 of the ALDS against Boston Red Sox, which was the game in which the Indians completed the sweep against the BoSox and advanced to the Championship Series.
In that game, he gave up four hits in five innings.
Tomlin then started Game 2 of the ALCS against Toronto Blue Jays and again was the winning pitcher.
This time, he gave up only three hits in 5 2/3 inning, while striking out six batters.
In his career, Tomlin never pitched against the Cubs.
It was an emotional evening for Tomlin, as his father Jerry Tomlin was in attendance after leaving the hospital a week ago.
In August, Tomlin Sr. unexpectedly ended up in the hospital with a rare condition, which left him paralyzed from chest down.
Tomlin is very close to his father, who required an emergency surgery, but to be able to walk again in the future.
...Curtis Granderson during the...
...European Big League Tour...
...in the Netherlands in 2013...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
Before the game, during a press conference, the annual Roberto Clemente Award was handed out to Curtis Granderson, outfielder of the New York Mets, for his charitable and community work.
The Award is annually handed out to the player who best represents baseball through sportsmanship, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions both on and off the field.
The Award was presented by Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred and Vera Clemente, the widow of baseball-great Roberto Clemente.
On December 31, 1972, Clemente died in a plane crash off the coast of Puerto Rico.
Earlier that year, Clemente, who played for Pittsburgh Pirates had hit his 3,000th Major League-basehit on September 30 in what would be the final at bat of his career.
When Nicaragua was struck by a devastating earthquake shortly before Christmas, Clemente organized emergency relief flights with relief supplies to the victims.
He then decided to accompany one of the flights himself.
But after taking off from San Juan in Puerto Rico, the plane crashed in the ocean.
The winner of the Roberto Clemente Award is selected from a list of 30 nominees, one player from each team.
Granderson also was honored on the field before the game.
The Award is handed out since 1971, but was named after Clemente in 1973.
The ceremonial first pitch tonight was thrown by legendary Hall of Famer Billy Williams, who played in 16 seasons for the Cubs.
Cubs-starter Kyle Hendricks started the first World Series-game at Wrigley Field in 71 years by striking out lead-off hitter Carlos Santana.
He had been the designated hitter for the Indians in the previous games.
But because the games are now played in a National League-stadium, there will be no DH in the line-up.
As Indians-Manager Terry Francona wanted to have the powerhitter in his line-up, Santana played in leftfield tonight.
A position, he normally doens't play, as he is primarily used as a first baseman and of course DH.
With one out, Jason Kipnis (infield-hit) and Francisco Lindor both singled to put runners at the corners.
Moments later, Lindor was picked off first base by Hendricks.
Initially, he was ruled safe by 1B Umpire Marvin Hudson, but that was overturned after a challenge.
The inning ended when Hendricks also struckout Mike Napoli.
In the bottom of the first inning, Cleveland-starter Josh Tomlin retired the side.
In the second inning, he gave up a lead-off single to Ben Zobrist, but he then retired the next three batters.
Cleveland reached base for the fourth consecutive time in the fourth inning.
In the first, a runner stranded on third base.
In the second, lead-off hitter José Ramirez led off with a single, but was forced out, then a double play ended the at bat.
In the third, Carlos Santana walked with two outs, but stranded.
Now, in the fourth, Francisco Lindor led off with his second basehit in the game.
With one out, José Ramirez also connected for his second hit.
The latter was then forced out at second base on a grounder by Lonnie Chisenhall, who himself reached first base on a close play which followed an attempt to complete a double play.
The Indians stranded runners on first and third base when Kyle Hendricks closed by striking out Roberto Perez.
Chicago got its second baserunner in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Josh Tomlin had retired the side again in the third, but walked lead-off hitter Kris Bryant in the fourth.
With one out, he was forced out, then a flyout ended the at bat.
In the top of the fifth inning, Cleveland got its lead-off hitter on base for the third time, as Tyler Naquin singled.
He was moved into scoring position via a perfect sacrifice bunt by pitcher Josh Tomlin.
Hereafter, Kyle Hendricks walked Carlos Santana and got the bases loaded when he hit Jason Kipnis with a pitch.
That brought in new pitcher Justin Grimm to the mound.
He got a double play-grounder from Francisco Lindor that ended the inning and the scoring threat.
In the bottom of the fifth, Chicago also got its third lead-off hitter on base for the third time and Cleveland also went to the bullpen.
Jorge Soler led off with a single and advanced on a grounder.
He was then unable to advanced on a following grounder.
When Miguel Montero was announced as pinch-hitter, Cleveland made a pitching change and brought in relief-ace Andrew Miller.
Montero lined the ball into rightfield, but there, it was caught by Lonnie Chisenhall to end the inning.
After Cleveland had threatened to open the score in the fifth inning, it was retired in order for the first time in the sixth by new pitcher Carl Edwards, Jr., who closed with a strikeout.
In the bottom of the sixth, Andrew Miller struckout the side and with that, the game was still scoreless.
...Michael Martinez scored the lone run in the game...
...On the photo, he plays for Philadelphia Phillies in 2012...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
That changed in the top of the seventh inning, as Cleveland opened the score.
Roberto Perez led off with a single and was replaced by pinch-runner Michael Martinez, who then moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Tyler Naquin.
Moments later, Martinez advanced to third base on a wild pitch.
Hereafter, Rajai Davis walked and a pick-off attempt by the catcher to third base ended in a close play.
Martinez dove back to the base and was ruled safe by veteran 3B Umpire Joe West.
A challenge followed, but the call was upheld.
With pitcher Andrew Miller being the next batter, Cleveland-Manager Terry Francona inserted Coco Crisp as pinch-hitter.
That decision worked out fine, as Crisp hit a line drive-single into righfield that brought in Martinez to score the first run.
Davis tried to advance to third base, but he was eliminated there.
Hereafter, Mike Montgomery was brought in as new pitcher and he got a grounder from Jason Kipnis.
That bounced away from first baseman Anthony Rizzo.
Covering second baseman Javier Baez fielded the ball and threw it to Montgomery, resulting in another close play and another challenge.
The call was upheld and ended the inning, but the Indians led 1-0.
In the bottom of the seventh, Bryan Shaw became the new pitcher for the Indians and got two quick outs.
But then Jorge Soler drilled the ball down the rightfield-line for an apparent foul ball.
However, the ball stayed in the field and Soler ended up with a triple.
He stranded on third base, as next hitter Javier Baez grounded out.
With two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, Dexter Fowler singled for the Cubs.
That brought in closer Cody Allen to face Kris Bryant.
But the Cleveland-pitching again was outstanding, as Allen struckout Bryant.
After Cleveland had been retired in order in the eighth and ninth inning, Chicago got its final chance to do something back.
In the bottom of the ninth, Anthony Rizzo led of with a single and was replaced by pinch-runner Chris Coghlan.
Cody Allen then struckout Ben Zobrist.
Coghan then advanced on a grounder.
With two outs, he reached third base when a grounder to first baseman Mike Napoli by Jason Heyward ended in an error.
With runners on first and third base, next batter Javier Baez tried to hit the first pitch saw out of the stadium, but swung miss.
Hereafter, Heyward stole second base.
Moments later, Allen struckout Baez to end the game!
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Cleveland takes lead in World Series with 1-0 shutout
CHICAGO, Illinois (USA) -
Cleveland Indians took a 2-1 lead in the World Series by winning only 1-0 against the Chicago Cubs on Friday-evening (October 28).
The Series continues with Game 4 on Saturday.
71 years ago, the Cubs had taken a 2-1 lead in the first three games, which were all played in Detroit.
With its first title since 1908 in sight, the Series then moved to Chicago for the remainder of the games.
It was during Game 4 that the legendary Curse of the Billy Goat originated.
William Sianis, owner of Billy Goat Tavern, had two tickets for that game.
One for him and one for his goat.
Because of the odor of his goat, he was asked during the game to leave Wrigley Field.
Sianis, who reacted furiously, then cursed the Cubs, stating that 'they ain't gonna win no more'.
Some interpreted it that the Cubs would never win the National League-title again or never win another World Series.
It has also been mentioned that Sianis wrote a telegram to then-owner Philip Wrigley in which he wrote that the Cubs 'are going to lose this World Series and you are never going to win another World Serie again, because you insulted my goat'.
Of the four games played in Chicago, the Cubs lost three and with that also lost the World Series.
The team never returned to the Series until this year.
On October 22, at Wrigley Field, the Cubs shutout the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-0 to win the NL-title and return the World Series after 71 years.
On that day, it was the 46th anniversary of Sianis' death.