Cubs Down 2-1 In World Series After Bats Go Silent In Shutout Loss In Game 3

(CBS) The Cubs’ bats went silent in Game 3 of the World Series.

For the second time in three games, Chicago was shut out by the Cleveland Indians, this time 1-0 on Friday in the first World Series game played at Wrigley Field since 1945. The Cubs’ struggles at the plate on a night in which the wind blew out has left them in a 2-1 hole in the series.

Cleveland scored the only run it needed in the seventh inning on a Coco Crisp pinch-hit RBI single. Roberto Perez led off the inning with a single off C.J. Edwards, then was pinch-run for by Michael Martinez, who advanced to second on a sac bunt, to third on a wild pitch and then scored on Crisp’s single just in front of a charging Jorge Soler in right field.

The Cubs didn’t advance a runner to third base until the seventh inning. They had a chance to tie then after Soler’s two-out triple to right field landed just inside the line, but Javier Baez grounded out to shortstop.

Anthony Rizzo led off the ninth inning with a single and was pinch run for by Chris Coghlan, who advanced to second on a groundout and third on an error with two outs. Cody Allen then struck out Baez to end it.

Chicago couldn’t solve Cleveland right-hander Josh Tomlin or a trio of relievers, getting just five hits on the night. Tomlin threw 4 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing two hits, walking one and striking out one.

Cubs right-hander Kyle Hendricks worked out of trouble on multiple occasions as he allowed the lead-off batter to reach in three of the first five innings. With runners on the corners and one out in the top of the first, he picked off Francisco Lindor at first, then retired froze Mike Napoli looking.

Hendricks wiggled out of a first-and-second, one-out jam in the fourth inning, then was pulled with the bases loaded and one out in the fifth as he struggled with his command. Reliever Justin Grimm bailed him out, getting Lindor to ground into a 4-6-3 double play that sent Wrigley Field into a frenzy and had Grimm and Rizzo fist-pumping.

Hendricks threw 4 1/3 scoreless innings, allowing six hits, walking two and striking out six.

Game 4 is set for Sunday, with a 7:08 p.m. first pitch. Cubs right-hander John Lackey opposes Indians right-hander Corey Kluber.

from CBS Chicago http://ift.tt/2eR2Gzk