On a night that portended big offense with the wind blowing out at Wrigley Field, the Indians stifled the Cubs' bats and got a big hit from Coco Crisp to take Game 3 of the World Series, 1-0, on Friday. With another stellar outing from reliever Andrew Miller and a Cody Allen save with the potential tying run 90 feet away in the ninth, Cleveland takes a 2-1 series edge into Game 4 tonight at 8 ET on FOX.
Below is a look at each of those key moments and how they propelled the Indians to within two victories of their first World Series title in 68 years. Cast your vote for the best performance on Twitter @MLB.
• Game 4: Tonight, 7:30 p.m. ET air time | 8 ET game time on FOX
Miller mutes mighty Cubs again
Tribe manager Terry Francona called on his relief ace, Miller, with two outs and a runner at second in the fifth inning. Miller got pinch-hitter Miguel Montero to line out to right and end the threat. The left-hander than struck out the side in the sixth, upping his strikeout total this postseason to 27, one shy of the all-time reliever strikeout record set by Francisco Rodríguez for the Angels in the 2002 postseason.
• World Series gear: Cubs | Indians
Miller also extended his scoreless run to begin his postseason career -- he hasn't given up a run in 23 1/3 innings, second all-time to Jonathan Papelbon (26 postseason innings before allowing a run).
This postseason, Miller has 15 scoreless innings, setting a relief record to begin a postseason. Miller surpassed Goose Gossage's 14 1/3 scoreless frames for the Yankees in 1981.
Coco clutch
Crisp came to the plate as a pinch-hitter for Cleveland with runners on the corners and one out in the seventh. He served the first pitch he saw from Cubs reliever Carl Edwards Jr. into right field to drive in the only run of the game.
With the pinch-hit single, Crisp became the first player in Indians history to drive in a go-ahead run as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning or later in a World Series game.
Allen seals the deal under pressure
With runners at second and third with two outs, Allen got the biggest save of his career by striking out Cubs postseason hero Javier Báez to end the game, sealing a 2-1 series advantage for Cleveland.
Allowing a hit to Baez in that situation could very well have flipped the script and given Chicago the pivotal Game 3 victory. Allen has tossed 10 scoreless innings this postseason, racking up 18 strikeouts and walking just three.
Don't forget to vote for the World Series Most Valuable Player Award presented by Chevrolet, starting in the sixth inning of the first potential Fall Classic-clinching game.