CLEVELAND — This is how curses die.
One magnificent performance after another. One powerful win at a time.
Jake Arrieta did not allow a hit until Jason Kipnis’ one-out double in the sixth and Kyle Schwarber continued his miraculous return from major knee surgery as the Cubs chilled the Indians, 5-1 at Progressive Field Wednesday night in Game 2 of the World Series to make it 1-1, heading back to Wrigley Field.
The win was the first World Series victory for the Cubs since Oct. 8, 1945, moving them one step closer to their first championship since 1908.
This is the start. One win down, three to go.
And they can do it at home, Wrigley Field. Three more wins and they break the curse.
“I’m just going to keep riding this wave until it ends,’’ Schwarber said. “Baseball is a crazy game.’’
So what’s it going to be like at Wrigley, Kris Byrant?
“I really can’t imagine what it is going to be like,’’ said the third baseman who scored the first run of the game in the first inning, scoring from first on Anthony Rizzo’s double off Indians starter Trevor Bauer.
The Cubs are 7-1 this postseason when they score first. During the year they were 73-20 when they struck first.
“That’s our mantra on a nightly basis,’’ Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “Score first. We want to do it all the time.’’
In the third inning, Schwarber continued his stirring comeback, driving in Rizzo with a single up the middle, his first RBI of the year. As Schwarber celebrated at first base he looked back into the Cubs dugout and screamed an obscenity, all with a smile on his face. Before Tuesday night he hadn’t played in the majors since April 7.
The Cubs kept pouring it on and Indians pitchers kept having trouble finding the plate. This is why Indians manager Terry Francona announced before the game that Corey Kluber will start Game 4 on short rest. “That was Plan A,’’ Francona said.
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Schwarber picked up two singles and two RBIs, batting fifth. His presence makes this lineup so much more powerful and that is why Theo Epstein and Cubs management think so highly of him.
Here is the secret to Schwarber’s success, offered by veteran catcher David Ross, who has seen it all.
“He stayed so engaged in the team while he was hurt, doing scouting reports, watching video in the dugout,’’ Ross said. “Most guys would check out and just go home, play with the kids and go get ’em next year. Mentally, he’s been competing in his mind with us the whole time.’’
“I believe in visualization,’’ Schwarber said.
The Cubs managed to beat Francona for the first time ever in the World Series, as the former Red Sox manager had been 9-0. No manager before had ever won his first nine World Series games.
This was a chilly, wet night and the Indians fans were coming off the high of that Game 1 6-0 victory. The Indians haven’t won a World Series since 1948 — 40 years after the Cubs got their last World Series championship.
LeBron James and his Cavaliers teammates were at the game one day after they raised their NBA title banner and pulverized the Knicks. Some of the Cavaliers were showing off their championship rings as they were being shown on the scoreboard to the roar of the 38,172 fans.
Now, can the Cubs take Schwarber’s bat out of the lineup? Here, he was the designated hitter but in Chicago he would have to play outfield. He ran the bases well and seems to have no problems with his knee.
The Cubs need Schwarber’s bat and energy. Expect him to be in the lineup Friday.
Francona said it best about Schwarber, noting his flight here to the World Series from the Arizona Fall League.
“I can see why Theo sent a plane for him,’’ Francona said. “I would, too.’’