The Cleveland Indians are one win away from their first World Series victory since 1948 and continuing the Curse of the Billy Goat.
Thanks to the long ball, small ball and record-setting pitching performances, the Indians beat the Chicago Cubs 7-2 in Game 4 Saturday night at Wrigley Field to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.
The last 10 teams to fall behind 3-1 in the World Series have lost the series. The 1985 Royals are the last team to overcome the deficit.
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Like in Tuesday's Game 1 win, Indians ace Corey Kluber held Cubs batters in check over six innings of work before handing the ball off to ALCS MVP Andrew Miller and Dan Otero for the win.
Three takeaways from Cleveland's win.
1. Kluber shines again. With his six-inning effort Saturday, the right-hander owns a 0.89 ERA with 35 strikeouts and just right walks in 30 1/3 innings pitched in the postseason. Kluber struck out six to set a new club record with 15 punch outs in one World Series. Pitching on short rest for the second time in his career, Kluber exited after 81 pitches, setting up a great scenario for the Indians should the club need him in Game 7 again on short rest.
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2. Anomalies haunt Lackey. The veteran right-hander led the National League with a .103 batting average allowed during a 3-2 count, but Saturday all three Cleveland runs he allowed came on full counts. What made matters worse for the Cubs were the rare throwing errors by the usually sure-handed Kris Bryant, who committed just 12 during the regular season. Bryant made a throwing error to first base in the second inning, allowing Lonnie Chisenhall to reach. Later in the inning, Bryant made another throwing error on Kluber's infield hit, allowing Chisenhall to score from second. It was Bryant's fourth error of this postseason. Lackey retired the last eight batters he faced, but the damage was done.
3. Cubs bats have gone silent. Over the past 22 innings, Chicago batters have scored just two runs. The Indians' pitching staff has indeed been dominant, but the Cubs offense had trouble scoring runs in the NLDS, as well. One of the most potent lineups in baseball has just one hit in their last 27 at-bats with runners on base and are 5 for 37 as a team with runners in scoring position. While they helped sparked the offense for the Cubs in the NLCS, Willson Contreras and Javy Baez have looked lost at the plate this series and are a combined 3 for 30.
Highlight
Jason Kipnis virtually seals the win for Cleveland with a three-run home run in the seventh inning to put the Indians up 7-1.
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What's next
Game 5: Indians at Cubs, Sunday, 8 p.m. ET on Fox — Trevor Bauer (12-8, 4.26 ERA) starts for the second time since being forced to exit Game 3 of the ALCS when his pinkie wound burst open. Bauer, who has never started on short rest in his career, faces the Cubs for the third time. He lasted just 3 2/3 innings in Game 2, allowing two runs on six hits. Jon Lester (19-5, 2.44 ERA) allowed 10 Indians' baserunners in Game 1 en route to three runs allowed in 5 2/3 innings of work. He'll look to bounce back at Wrigley Field, where he had a 1.74 ERA at during the regular season.