World Series, Game 1: Five things we learned about Cubs, Indians

CLEVELAND -- Batterymates and battering mates Corey Kluber and Roberto Perez propelled the Cleveland Indians to a 6-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday. Each dominated.

But the Cubs have been here before.

Chicago was shut out twice in a row and trailed the Los Angeles Dodgers two games to one in the National League Championship Series before scoring 23 runs and in the final three games and beating Clayton Kershaw in the Game 6 clincher Saturday.

Most of the highlights were Cleveland's as we prepare for Game 2, moved up an hour to an 7:08 p.m. ET start Wednesday because of the threat of rain.

Five things we learned from Game 1 of the World Series

1. Corey Kluber continues to thrive on the big stage.

Kluber won Game 1 of the American League Division Series, Game 1 of the AL Championship Series and now Game 1 of the World Series. He entered the game with an 0.98 ERA this postseason and dropped it to 0.74 with six scoreless innings.

"It's almost like you have that extra level of intensity or focus and stuff that it's not really something you can replicate (in the regular season)," he said of his postseason success.

Kluber was spot-on with his two-seam fastball, bringing it back over the plate to catch Cubs hitters off-guard. Six of his nine strikeouts were called third strikes. Look for him to start Game 4 and (if necessary) Game 7.

2. Jon Lester is not going to throw to first base. He just is not.

Francisco Lindor broke for second with one out in the third inning while Lester was still in his stretch. Lindor was an easy out. But Lester merely stepped off the rubber and bluffed toward first base as Lindor scooted back to first. Lester has not thrown to first base to hold a runner since last season. Opponents were 28 of 41 stealing against him and personal catcher David Ross this season and are 3-for-5 in four postseason starts, going 1-for-2 Tuesday.

3. Andrew Miller is still Super(extendedsetup)man.

Miller got himself into what (for him) passes for trouble this postseason by giving up a walk and a single to load the bases after replacing Corey Kluber with one on and no outs in the seventh inning. However, he pitched out of that with a short fly and two strikeouts.

Miller added a scoreless eighth inning, striking out Kyle Schwarber with two on to end the inning.

The lefty has 24 strikeouts in 13 2/3 scoreless innings this postseason. He threw 46 pitches Tuesday, but manager Terry Francona said that might not matter.

"This was kind of reminiscent of the first Boston game (in the ALDS) where he threw 40, 41-plus, and he was ready to come back and pitch the next night," Francona said.

4. Kyle Schwarber looked very hitterish.

It was hard to tell Tuesday was his first game in 6 1/2 months. He recovered from surgery to repair torn anterior cruciate and lateral collateral ligaments in his left knee after a gruesome collision April 7.

Schwarber doubled off the right field fence in the fourth inning and did not expand the zone while walking in the seventh. He struck out twice, but who didn't?

"What I saw today is that he absolutely will start tomorrow," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.

Schwarber has not been medically cleared to play defense, Maddon said.

5. Roberto Perez saved his power for the postseason.

The Cleveland catcher hit a bases-empty homer in the fourth inning for a 3-0 lead, and his three-run homer in the eighth inning put the game out of reach. After hitting three homers in the regular season, he has three in the postseason.

"I'm just playing with a lot of confidence right now," he said. "I'm not trying to do too much at the plate. I'm just trying to control my emotions."

Perez joined Yogi Berra, Gene Tenace, Johnny Bench and Gary Carter as the only catchers with two homers in a World Series game, and he is also the first player to have three homers in a postseason out of No. 9 spot in the order.