CLEVELAND — Following a four-day layoff, the Chicago Cubs (11-3) retook the field to battle the Cleveland Indians (10-8) in a rematch of the 2016 World Series. Tuesday's opener of the two-game series at Progressive Field saw the Cubs come out on top by a final score of 7-1.
In addition to lefty Jon Lester making a quality start for the North Siders, right fielder Jason Heyward produced his best offensive showing of the season thus far. Going 3-for-4 and hitting a three-run home run, Heyward manned the charge at the plate for the Cubs.
Inning-by-Inning Breakdown:
T1: Adam Plutko started on the mound for the Indians in place of Mike Clevinger, who was scratched from his start due to a COVID-19 protocol violation. Plutko went three up, three down in the first.
Score: Cubs 0, Indians 0
B1: Javier Baez nearly threw out his pal Francisco Lindor in a valiant attempt at preventing the speedy shortstop from tabbing an infield single. Anthony Rizzo stretched out at first base but could not quite reach the ball. Lester then issued a two-out walk, but the Tribe stranded two. Interestingly, the bottom of the first began with Kris Bryant making a play at third base that was similar to the final out of the 2016 Fall Classic.
Score: Cubs 0, Indians 0
T2: Willson Contreras singled, and Ian Happ followed that with a walk. A base knock by Heyward plated Contreras before Victor Caratini grounded into a double play.
Score: Cubs 1, Indians 0
B2: Lester sat the Indians down in order in the second.
Score: Cubs 1, Indians 0
T3: Playing against his former team, Jason Kipnis smacked a leadoff double. Kipnis, who suited up for the Indians from 2011-19, was given a video tribute before the game. He was left stranded in the third, though.
Score: Cubs 1, Indians 0
B3: Cleveland suffered two groundouts and a strikeout in the bottom of the third.
Score: Cubs 1, Indians 0
T4: Kyle Schwarber's leadoff base hit was spoiled by a double play groundout off the bat of Contreras.
Score: Cubs 1, Indians 0
B4: Carlos Santana doubled with one out. With two outs and runners on the corners, Lester drew a flyout.
Score: Cubs 1, Indians 0
T5: Plutko did not retake the mound for the fifth. The Cubs went down in order.
Score: Cubs 1, Indians 0
B5: Lester continued to keep the Indians off the scoreboard with an easy fifth.
Score: Cubs 1, Indians 0
T6: The Cubs took a commanding lead thanks to a five-run sixth. Bryant kicked off the inning with a base on balls, and Baez hustled for an infield single soon afterward. Once Schwarber was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Contreras skied a sacrifice fly that ushered Bryant home. Happ then hit an RBI single, and, following a pitching change, Heyward went yard. The 359-foot bomb to right marked Heyward's second dinger of the season.
Score: Cubs 6, Indians 0
B6: Lester hit Lindor with a pitch, and Franmil Reyes scored Lindor with a two-out double.
Score: Cubs 6, Indians 1
T7: Kipnis crossed the plate against his old club. The second baseman garnered a leadoff walk and eventually scored from third on a wild pitch. Baez barreled a two-out double but did not score. He had some fun with Lindor after awkwardly sliding into second base.
Score: Cubs 7, Indians 1
B7: Reliever Ryan Tepera pitched a scoreless inning. Happ, who made a couple of solid plays in the outfield on the night, caught a fly ball in deep left field to end the frame.
Score: Cubs 7, Indians 1
T8: Happ and Heyward singled in a scoreless eighth.
Score: Cubs 7, Indians 1
B8: Colin Rea toed the rubber in the eighth and kept the Indians off base.
Score: Cubs 7, Indians 1
T9: Bryant reached via a leadoff single. Next, a potential double play was spoiled due to a throwing error committed by former Cub Mike Freeman. Rizzo took second on the play and then advanced to third on an ensuing groundout. Following a two-out walk of Albert Almora Jr., Contreras grounded out.
Score: Cubs 7, Indians 1
B9: Rea finished Cleveland off. Fittingly, Heyward caught the game-ending fly ball.
Final Score: Cubs 7, Indians 1
Statistical Breakdown:
Chicago Cubs: Batting: 2 2B, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 4 2-Out RBI, 1 SF, 3 GIDP, 3-13 RISP, 7 LOB; Fielding: 1 E; Pitching: 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 0 HR, 1 HBP, 0 IBB, 0 WP
Cleveland Indians: Batting: 2 2B, 1 RBI, 1 2-Out RBI, 0-6 RISP, 7 LOB; Fielding: 1 E, 3 DP; Pitching: 11 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 4 BB, 5 K, 1 HR, 2 HBP, 0 IBB, 1 WP
Studs of the Game:
Chicago Cubs: Jason Heyward (RF): 3-4, 1 R, 4 RBI, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HR, 3 2-Out RBI, 2-2 RISP; Jon Lester (SP): 6.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, 0 HR, 1 HBP, 0 IBB, 0 WP
Cleveland Indians: Franmil Reyes (DH): 2-3, 0 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 2-Out RBI, 0-1 RISP
Duds of the Game:
Chicago Cubs: Anthony Rizzo (1B): 0-5, 0 R, 0 RBI, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 GIDP, 0-2 RISP
Cleveland Indians: Cameron Hill (RP): 0.2 IP, 2 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 1 BB, 0 K, 0 HR, 1 HBP, 0 IBB, 0 WP
Up Next: The second and final game of the series will be played at 5:10 p.m. CDT on Wednesday, Aug. 12. Right-hander Kyle Hendricks (2-1, 3.54) is set to pitch against right-hander Carlos Carrasco (2-1, 2.50) at Progressive Field. The forecast calls for warm temperatures and mostly clear skies.
Box Score:
| Chicago Cubs at Cleveland Indians |
| Aug 11, 2020 |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
R |
H |
E |
| Chicago (11-3) |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
5 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
7 |
11 |
1 |
| Cleveland (10-8) |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
1 |
| W: Jon Lester (2-0) L: Adam Plutko (1-1) |
Highlights:
