CHICAGO — Corey Kluber beat the Cubs for the second time in four days, Carlos Santana and Jason Kipnis homered and the Cleveland Indians routed Chicago 7-2 Saturday night to move within one victory of their first World Series title since 1948.
Leading the Series 3-1, Cleveland can finish off Chicago on Sunday night, when Trevor Bauer starts for the Indians and Jon Lester for the Cubs.
Dexter Fowler led off the first inning with a double just beyond a diving left fielder Rajai Davis’ reach and scored on Anthony Rizzo’s one out single, giving the Cubs a 1-0 lead over ace Corey Kluber and the Cleveland Indians in Game 4 of the World Series on Saturday.
The Cubs got off to a good start after losing 1-0 the previous night in the first World Series game at Wrigley Field since they dropped Game 7 against Detroit in 1945. It was their fourth shutout loss in eight games and second of the series.
But they struck quickly against Kluber, who struck out nine over six superb innings in a 6-0 win in Game 1.
Rajai Davis led off with a groundout to third baseman Kris Bryant on a 1-1 pitch from John Lackey.
Carlos Santana homered leading off a two-run second and third baseman Kris Bryant committed two errors to help the Indians grab a 2-1 lead.
John Lackey was lifted for pinch hitter Chris Coghlan leading off the fifth with the Cubs trailing the Indians 3-1.
Lackey finished strong, retiring his final eight batters after Francisco Lindor singled in a run in the third.
He gave up two earned runs and four hits, struck out five and walked one.
Mike Montgomery came in to start the sixth.
The Cubs had just gone ahead when Santana drove a 3-2 fastball to the right-field seats, quieting a rocking crowd.
The home run was the third of the postseason for Santana, who has just six hits in 37 at-bats. He set career highs with 34 homers and 87 RBIs this season.
Bryant threw wide to first after fielding Lonnie Chisenhall’s ground ball with one out. His second error came with runners on first and second and two out.
Bryant’s throw after he fielded Kluber’s swinging bunt single hit off a stretching Anthony Rizzo’s glove, allowing Chisenhall to score.
Chicago-area product Jason Kipnis led off the third with a double to the right-field corner and Francisco Lindor followed with an RBI single, giving the Indians and Corey Kluber a two-run lead in the third.
Kipnis went to nearby Glenbrook North High School and grew up rooting for the Cubs.
Cleveland’s Carlos Santana hit a ball so hard it knocked the glove off Cubs reliever Mike Montgomery’s hand.
Francisco Lindor had just walked leading off the sixth when Santana smashed a comebacker.
The single knocked the pitcher’s glove to the ground. Montgomery retrieved the ball with his bare hand and threw wide to first. Santana overran the bag but dove back in ahead of the tag, putting runners on first and second.
Lindor later scored on Lonnie Chisenhall’s sacrifice fly, making it 4-1.
Corey Kluber was taken out of the game after yet another dominant start.
The Indians had Coco Crisp bat for him leading off the seventh with a 4-1 lead, ending their ace’s night.
Kluber sure did his part working on three days’ rest, holding the Cubs to one run and five hits. He struck out six and walked one after shutting down Chicago in Game 1.
Jason Kipnis greeted Travis Wood with a three-run homer in the seventh to give the Indians a 7-1 lead and silence the crowd at Wrigley Field.
Coco Crisp, batting for Corey Kluber, led off with a double. Justin Grimm threw a wild pitch and hit Rajai Davis with a 1-0 fastball.
Wood came in and Kipnis lined a 3-1 cutter to right to break open the game.
