Baseball: Indians Counting On More Heroics From Kluber, Perez

CLEVELAND, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Oct, 2016 ) - Cleveland pitcher Corey Kluber and catcher Roberto Perez humbled the hard-hitting Chicago Cubs in Tuesday's World Series opener, but will be called upon again as the Indians try to end a 67-year title drought.

Both made historic efforts in their World Series debuts to give Cleveland the first opening shutout since 1990 in Major League Baseball's best-of-seven championship final.

Perez, in addition to telling Kluber which pitches to throw and where, became the first player to smash two home runs from the last spot in a batting order in a World Series game.

"His hands are so soft and he's confident to boot. That's a good combination," said Indians manager Terry Francona. "What he did at the plate, my goodness. That was exciting to watch." Kluber struck out nine over six scoreless innings, retiring eight over the first three innings to set a World Series record.