Saturday 29 October 2016 11:29, UK
Coco Crisp snapped a scoreless tie in the seventh inning with a pinch-hit single that gave the Cleveland Indians a 1-0 win over the Chicago Cubs in a pivotal Game Three of the World Series on Friday.
Cleveland then leaned on their bullpen to seize a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Fall Classic and spoil an opening night party for the Cubs, who were hosting their first World Series game in 71 years.
The game ended in frustrating fashion for the Cubs, who left runners on second and third in the ninth inning when Javier Baez struck out on a high fastball against closer Cody Allen in the second shutout loss of the series for Chicago.
Andrew Miller, who relieved starter Josh Tomlin in the fifth, was credited with the win as four Cleveland pitchers combined on a five-hitter. Reliever Carl Edwards Jr, one of six pitchers used by the Cubs, took the loss.
The Indians' victory jettisoned any chance the Cubs had of clinching the World Series title at home with only the next two games left to be played in Chicago.
With the wind blowing out toward Wrigley Field's reachable, ivy-covered outfield walls, offensive fireworks were anticipated but it was the pitchers that held sway along with bench player Crisp, who ruined the fun for a packed house of nearly 42,000.
Roars rolled through the old stadium in the opening innings but as the game wore on a worried stillness marked the tense battle.
Tomlin, spotting his pitches with pinpoint accuracy, kept the Cubs off balance and off the bases, while Chicago starter Kyle Hendricks escaped jam after jam.
Three times in the first five innings Cleveland got a baserunner to third but could not advance him the last 90 feet.
In the fifth, the Cubs escaped a bases loaded, one-out threat when Justin Grimm got Francisco Lindor to ground into a double play and the crowd erupted with cheers.
But the bubble burst in the seventh.
Roberto Perez led off with a single, was bunted over to second base by Tyler Naquin and Rajai Davis followed with a walk.
That set the stage for Crisp, who stepped to the plate to hit for reliever Miller and singled to right to score pinch-runner Michael Martinez for the game's only run.
Game Four is set for Saturday with Indians ace Corey Kluber, the Game One winner, scheduled to start against Chicago's John Lackey.
