Chicago Cubs: Key takeaways from Cubs’ Game 1 loss

Clutch hitting is key

Chicago went just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position against the Indians’ trio of Kluber-Miller-Allen. Meanwhile, Cleveland went a somewhat more respectable 2-for-9, capitalizing on four walks and a key Jon Lester hit-by-pitch as part of a two-run first.

The big storyline offensively for the Indians was backstop Roberto Perez, who clubbed a pair of home runs to pace the bats against Lester and the Cubs’ pen. Perez and third baseman Jose Ramirez, both of whom have burst onto the scene in 2016, combined for six hits and five runs batted in.

On the other side of the diamond, the only Chicago player to manage more than a lone base hit was Zobrist, who is looking to win his second-straight Fall Classic after playing with the Kansas City Royals in 2015.

More than anything, the Cubs limited their own chances to win the opener, striking out 15 times over the course of the evening, making Kluber and Miller look more dominant than ever at times.

That being said, the team did manage seven base hits – which, if you’ll all look back to Game 2 of the NLCS, makes me feel far better than the measly two knocks Chicago put together against Clayton Kershaw.