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Indians grab win over Cubs in first World Series game

October 26, 2016

The Cleveland Indians have come out on top of Game 1 in the battle of the two teams that have waited the longest for a World Series victory. The best-of-seven MLB final series continues in Cleveland on Wednesday evening.

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World Series Cleveland Indians vs. Chicago Cubs
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar

Roberto Perez hit two home runs and pitcher Corey Kluber struck out nine batters over six shutout innings to lead the Cleveland Indians to a 6-0 drubbing of the Chicago Cubs in the opening game of the World Series on Tuesday night.

Perez first hit a solo home run in the fourth inning before putting the game as good as out of reach for the Cubs with a three-run homer in the eighth.

The 27-year-old native of Puerto Rico catcher became the first player since 2002 to hit two homers in his first World Series game.

"I don't think I've ever had a night like that. It was huge," Perez said afterwards. "For me it means a lot. I've come a long ways. I'm playing with confidence right now."

This year's edition of the "Fall Classic" pits the two teams against each other that have suffered through the longest championship droughts in Major League Baseball.  The  Cubs have not won the World Series since 1908, while the Indians haven't taken the title since 1948.

The best-of-seven series continues in Cleveland on Wednesday before the shifting to Chicago's Wrigley Field for Game 3 on Friday.

pfd/ftm (AFP, AP, Reuters)