Cubs fans waited 71 years for this moment – a World Series game at Wrigley Field. 

The buzz around Wrigleyville was palpable for the entire day leading up to the 7:08 p.m. first pitch. Crowds huddled around the historic ballpark and the bars/restaurants were packed from the second they opened. A variety of helicopters from every news station in town hovered over the area as they captured the scene unfolding at Clark and Addison.

To say this was a big deal is an understatement and Wrigley Field was absolutely electric during the National Anthem and the pregame ceremonies.

But that energy turned into a nervous tension just minutes after Kyle Hendricks’ first pitch, as the Indians put two runners on thanks to back-to-back singles with 1 out. Hendricks flashed his brilliant pickoff move again to nab Francisco Lindor at first base and struck out Mike Napoli (who is now the Cubs quality assurance coach) to escape the jam.

Hendricks once again had a solid outing at Wrigley (4.1 shutout innings, 6 strikeouts) to run his 2016 postseason ERA to 1.31, but the Cubs lineup couldn’t muster up any offense against Indians starter Josh Tomlin. 

With neither team pushing across a run early, it became a game of the bullpens and the Indians narrowly edged the Cubs in that regard. Andrew Miller, Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen combined to throw 4.1 shutout innings, allowing only 3 hits and striking out 7 without permitting a free pass.

Carl Edwards Jr. gave up the lone run of the game in the top of the 7th inning on a Coco Crisp 2-out RBI single. 

The Cubs threatened in the bottom of the 7th when Jorge Soler hit a 2-out triple, but Javy Báez grounded out to end the inning. They challenged again in the bottom of the 9th inning thanks to a Cleveland error, but ultimately couldn’t push across the tying run. 

All’s well that ends well, however, as the loss just added to the epic story and comeback the Cubs put together later in the World Series.

Here’s how the two teams lined up that night for the first Fall Classic game at Wrigley Field since 1945:

Indians

Carlos Santana – LF
Jason Kipnis – 2B
Francisco Lindor – SS
Mike Napoli – 1B
José Ramírez – 3B
Lonnie Chisenhall – RF
Roberto Pérez – C
Tyler Naquin – CF
Josh Tomlin – P 

Cubs

Dexter Fowler – CF
Kris Bryant – 3B
Anthony Rizzo – 1B
Ben Zobrist – LF
Willson Contreras – C
Jorge Soler – RF
Javy Báez – 2B
Addison Russell – SS
Kyle Hendricks – P

Kyle Schwarber had just returned for the first two games in the series after his devastating knee injury, but that was simply as the designated hitter. He was not medically cleared by the doctors to play the outfield, so he was relegated to a bench role for these three games in Chicago and in this contest, he pinch-hit in the 8th inning and popped out on the infield.

Fun Facts:

• The Cubs were shut out for the 4th time in their last 8 games (and the 2nd time in the World Series).
• This marked the Indians’ 5th shutout win of the postseason.
• The Cubs went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
• It was the first World Series game to end in a 1-0 score since Game 4 of 2005 when the White Sox beat the Astros.