The World Series – Game 2 – Cubs 5, Indians 1
WP – Jake Arrieta (1-0) LP – Trevor Bauer (0-1) Save – None
Jake Arrieta took a no-hitter into the sixth inning. Mike Montgomery pitched two shutout innings. Anthony Rizzo doubled in Kris Bryant with the game’s first run. Kyle Schwarber plated two with a pair of singles and both Ben Zobrist and Addison Russell drove in runs as the Cubs beat the Indians on Wednesday night in Cleveland and tied The Series, 1-1.
The Cubs won the franchise’s first World Series game since Game 6 of the ’45 Fall Classic (Oct. 8, 1945).
Anthony Rizzo (1-for-3 with a double, two walks, two runs scored and a RBI) had a huge game and set the tone for the return of the Cubs relentless offense. The Cubs made the Indians’ pitching staff work incredibly hard for nine innings. Terry Francona used seven pitchers in Game 2 and the Cubs forced Trevor Bauer and six Indians’ relievers to make 196 pitches. Jake Arrieta, Mike Montgomery and Aroldis Chapman combined to throw 161 on Wednesday night.
Kris Bryant (1-for-5 with a run scored) scored the Cubs’ first run of The Series in the first inning on a double by Anthony Rizzo. Kyle Schwarber (2-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and two RBI) drove in Rizzo with a two-out single in the third. And Rizzo scored the Cubs’ third run on a triple from Ben Zobrist (2-for-4 with a triple, a walks, a run scored and a RBI).
Kyle Schwarber singled in Zobrist with the fourth run and Addison Russell (1-for-4 with a walk and a RBI) worked a bases loaded walk in the fifth that forced in Schwarber.
The Cubs scored five runs on nine hits with eight walks and eight strikeouts. The Cubs left the bases loaded in the fifth and seventh innings. For the night, the Cubs were 3-for-12 with RISP and left 13 men on base.
Jake Arrieta settled down after a rather shaky start to Game 2. Arrieta took a no-hitter into the sixth inning after throwing more balls than strikes (23 pitches, 10 strikes) in a shaky-at-best first inning. Arrieta escaped the first inning jam when Jose Ramirez flied out to Dexter Fowler in deep right center. On another night the ball Ramirez crushed would have likely left the yard.
Arrieta was effective and turned in a solid outing in Game 2. Arrieta allowed one run on two hits with three walks and six strikeouts. Arrieta made 98 pitches, 55 for strikes, in 5 2/3 innings.
Jake Arrieta’s 5 1/3 innings of no-hit ball was the longest a pitcher took a no-hitter in a World Series game since 1969 (Mets’ Jerry Koosman).
Mike Montgomery was outstanding in relief of Arrieta. Montgomery allowed two hits with over two shutout innings. Montgomery struck out four of the nine batters he faced on 40 pitches, 27 for strikes.
Aroldis Chapman did his job and recorded the final four outs in Game 2.
Kris Bryant notched the Cubs’ first hit of the night, a one-out single to center on a 2-2 pitch from Bauer. Anthony Rizzo smoked a 2-2 pitch into the right field corner. Lonnie Chisenhall threw to second base, instead of toward the plate. Bryant rounded third and scored … 1-0 Cubs. Ben Zobrist lined out to left and Schwarber struck out swinging (1-2 pitch) to end the inning.
The Cubs should have had more in the first. Trevor Bauer made 29 pitches and the Cubs gave Arrieta a 1-0 lead before he threw a pitch.
Jake Arrieta made quick work of Carlos Santana (pop out to third) and Jason Kipnis (swinging strikeout, 1-2 pitch) before he lost his command. Arrieta walked Francisco Lindor (four pitches) and Mike Napoli and the Indians had the tying run in scoring position. Jose Ramirez flied out to deep right center to end the inning … on another night it would have likely been a three-run homer to center.
Anthony Rizzo cranked up a two-out rally in the third inning. With the Cubs leading 1-0, Rizzo went from 0-2 to 4-2. Zobrist followed the Rizzo walk with a single to center. Rizzo stopped at second with two outs.
Kyle Schwarber stepped in and looked at three straight out of the zone. Schwarber was given the green light on a 3-0 pitch and he delivered. Schwarber ripped a single into right center. Rizzo scored, 2-0 Cubs. A run scoring hit on a 3-0 pitch with two outs in the World Series … ice in the veins.
With runners on the corners, Baez struck out swinging (0-2 pitch) to end the inning.
Jake Arrieta set the Indians down in order with two strikeouts in third. And the Cubs had a 2-0 lead after three complete.
It was an Anthony Rizzo walk that led to more runs for the Cubs in the fifth. Still clinging to a 2-0 lead, Rizzo worked a walk against Zach McAllister. Rizzo made McAllister throw 10 pitches before he took ball four and his base.
Ben Zobrist pulled a 1-0 pitch into right. The ball skipped all the way to the wall. Rizzo scored, 3-0 Cubs and Zobrist ended up a third with a triple. Chisenhall slipped in right field and the Cubs took advantage of the miscue.
With the infield in, Kyle Schwarber smacked a 1-2 pitch back up the middle and into center. Zobrist scored, 4-0 Cubs on Schwarber’s second run scoring hit of the game.
A wild pitch on a 1-2 offering to Baez allowed Schwarber to take second. Baez struck out swinging (2-2 pitch). Willson Contreras reached on an error by Kipnis and Jorge Soler walked to load the bases. Jason Heyward ran for Soler at first base.
Addison Russell walked on four pitches, Schwarber trotted in from third and the Cubs took a 5-0 lead. With the bases loaded and two down, Fowler struck out swinging to end the inning.
Jake Arrieta made quick work of the Indians in the fifth. The Cubs went to the sixth inning with a 5-0 lead.
The Cubs could not take advantage of back-to-back two-out walks in the sixth against Danny Salazar. Zobrist and Schwarber walked on eight pitches but Baez popped out to center to end the inning.
Jake Arrieta started the sixth with a no-hitter intact. Santana flied out to left for the first out in the inning. Jason Kipnis ripped a 1-1 pitch to right center and hustled to second with a double … the Indians first hit of the night.
Lindor grounded out to second (3-2 pitch) for the second out. Kipnis went to third with two outs. Arrieta pulled a 1-1 pitch to Napoli. Contreras could not get in front of the ball. Kipnis scored from third on a wild pitch, 5-1 Cubs. Napoli singled to left and Maddon made the slow walk.
Mike Montgomery replaced Arrieta and Jose Ramirez hit a 0-1 pitch back to the mound. Monty threw to Rizzo to end the inning.
The Cubs had a 5-1 lead after six innings.
And that would be the final score.
Mike Montgomery and Aroldis Chapman allowed only four baserunners (two walks, two hits) over the final 3 1/3 innings.
With Wednesday’s win, the Cubs evened The World Series at a game apiece.
The World Series shifts to Wrigley Field for games three, four and five starting on Friday (Oct. 28-30). Kyle Hendricks takes on Josh Tomlin in Game 3 on Friday night (7:08pm CDT).