CLEVELAND -- Throwing together the Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs in a World Series on the same night the Cavs celebrated the city's first major pro sports title in 52 years had to lead to a unique Game 1.
The two teams, especially the Indians, delivered in what became a 6-0 Cleveland win.
How about a record-breaking strikeout performance by Corey Kluber ... two big first-inning runs scoring on an infield dribbler and a hit-by-pitch … and two home runs from .183 hitter Roberto Perez -- becoming the first Indian ever with a multi-homer game in the World Series.
"It's an unbelievable feeling," Perez said.
Not everything was "unbelievable" or out of the ordinary, though, for the sold-out crowd of 38,091 at Progressive Field.
Francisco Lindor delivered three hits as the young Indians star shortstop continued to dazzle on baseball's biggest stage.
And, of course, Andrew Miller worked his magic out of the Cleveland bullpen before giving way to closer Cody Allen to preserve the team's fourth shutout of this postseason.
It all added up to keep Indians manager Terry Francona perfect in World Series games, as his teams are now 9-0. Remember, he ended Boston's epic title drought and added another for good measure before he came to Cleveland.
Cleveland and Chicago enter with Major League Baseball's longest World Series championship droughts. It's been 68 years since the Indians won the Fall Classic. The Cubs had not even appeared in one for 71 years and they haven't won it all since 1908.
But droughts, curses and any of the other storylines of this World Series took a backseat to Kluber once the Indians ace started the night striking out Dexter Fowler on five pitches.
A fastball with teeth. Breaking stuff with a nastier bite. The Cubs had few answers against the former Cy Young Award winner who was on his way to a nine-strikeout night.
"He gets such great movement both directions with his cutter and his comebacker," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. "He was hitting his edges. He pitched well. You've got to give him a lot of credit."
Kluber struck out eight through the first three innings, the most ever in a World Series game through three. Three pitchers shared the previous mark of seven, including Hall of Famers Bob Gibson and Randy Johnson. He also had broken the Indians strikeout record for a full World Series game by that point, surpassing the seven by Jaret Wright and Orel Hershiser in their Series starts a generation ago.
Walking off to a loud standing ovation after giving up a leadoff single in the seventh, Kluber had walked none and allowed just four hits. After throwing just 88 pitches, it's reasonable to think he should be pretty strong if the Indians bring him back on short rest for Game 4 Saturday night.
"In these playoffs he's been about as good as …" Francona said, trailing off before adding, "and we need him and we'll need him more."
Once Kluber exited, Miller entered.
Miller was not dominant, but good enough. He worked out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the seventh, striking out Addison Russell and David Ross to end that threat.
Miller also worked out of trouble in the eighth. With runners on the corners and two outs, he struck out Kyle Schwarber on a 2-2 slider.
Offensively, Lindor and Jose Ramirez each delivered three-hit nights and Perez shocked everyone with two home runs and four RBIs.
"What he did at the plate tonight, my goodness," Francona said of Perez. "That was exciting to watch."
The Tribe's two-run first started with Cubs starter Jon Lester getting two outs on five pitches.
Trouble arrived when Lindor singled through the middle and stole second. Lester then walked Mike Napoli and Carlos Santana.
Ramirez knocked in the first run with a dribbler down the third-base line that was essentially a swinging bunt. Lindor scored easily and the bases remained loaded for Brandon Guyer.
Lester forced home the second run by hitting Guyer on an 0-2 pitch.
The lead became 3-0 in the fourth when Perez, who spent the entire season hitting well under .200, continued to make a positive postseason impact. He banged a home run off the railing in the left-field bleachers.
"I've come a long ways," Perez said. "I'm just playing with a lot of confidence right now, not trying to do too much at the plate."
For perspective on how long it's been since the Cubs played in the Series: The last opponent to homer off them was legendary Hank Greenburg in 1945 when Detroit beat them for the title.
No one will confuse Perez with the former four-time home run champion. But he looked like one when Perez crushed his second homer, a three-run shot in the eighth. His three postseason homers equal his three from the regular season.
Perez also became the first player with two homers in his World Series debut since Troy Glaus for the Angels in 2002, as he put the Indians well on their way to their first Game 1 World Series win since 1920.
"I couldn't believe it," Perez said of the second homer.
Yeah, it's going to be a World Series like that.
-- You can reach Reach Chris Beaven at chris.beaven@cantonrep.com or on Twitter @cbeavenREP
