CLEVELAND, Oh (AP) — Jake Arrieta was back in 2015 form Wednesday in Cleveland. So was Kyle Schwarber as the Chicago Cubs earned a 5-1 victory over the Indians to even the World Series at a game apiece.
Arrieta had a no-hitter until Jason Kipnis hit a one-out double in the sixth. Kipnis came around to score on a wild pitch, moments before Mike Napoli singled to end Arrieta’s night after 5 2/3 innings.
Arrieta struck out six and walked three in addition to allowing two hits.
Schwarber was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI singles following a 1-for-3 performance in his return to the lineup in Game 1 on Tuesday. Schwarber missed the entire National League playoffs and all but two regular-season games after tearing knee ligaments on April 7 at Arizona.
Ben Zobrist added a run-scoring single and was 2-for-4 after collecting three hits in the opener. Anthony Rizzo lined an RBI double and scored twice in the Cubs’ first World Series victory since Game 6 of the 1945 Fall Classic against the Tigers.
Addison Russell worked out a bases-loaded walk in a three-run fifth that put the Cubs ahead 5-0.
Mike Montgomery and Aroldis Chapman combined to blank the Indians on two hits while striking out six over 3 1/3 innings of shutout relief.
Losing pitcher Trevor Bauer was reached for two runs on six hits and two walks before leaving with two out in the fourth.
The teams have a day off Thursday before resuming the Fall Classic Friday at Wrigley Field. Kyle Hendricks will take the mound for Chicago in Game 3 against Josh Tomlin.
Indians skipper Terry Francona has announced that Game 1 winner Corey Kluber will start Game 4 on Saturday in Chicago.
Game 3 is Friday night, when the Series returns to Wrigley Field in Chicago for the first time since 1945.
