Baseball-Indians blank Cubs in World Series opener

CLEVELAND, Oct 25 (Reuters) - The Cleveland Indians, lifted by the pitching of Corey Kluber and slugging of Roberto Perez, spoiled the long-awaited return to the World Series by the Chicago Cubs with a 6-0 spanking in Tuesday's opening game. Kluber became the first World Series pitcher to strike out eight of the first nine outs registered, as he outdueled Jon Lester, while catcher Perez blasted a pair of homers to drive in four runs as Cleveland claimed a 1-0 lead in the best-of-seven. The Indians seized a lead they never relinquished with a two-out, two-run rally in the first inning on two hits, including an RBI squibbler, two walks and a run that crossed the plate thanks to a bases-loaded hit batsman by Lester. Cleveland added another run the more conventional way on a line drive solo homer by Perez in the fourth, and a three-run blast in the eighth by the catcher finished off the Cubs, making their first appearance in the World Series in 71 years. Game Two will be on Wednesday in Cleveland before the Fall Classic shifts to Chicago for Game Three on Friday. Due to threat of rain, Wednesday's game will start at 7 p.m. local time (2300 GMT), an hour earlier than originally scheduled. (Writing by Larry Fine in New York, Editing by Andrew Both)