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Schwarber's spark gets Chicago Cubs going

Kyle Schwarber may be taking baby steps in his recovery from knee surgery, but his legend is growing by leaps and bounds.

Schwarber added to it Wednesday night, and it again came at a most opportune time for the Chicago Cubs.

He had a pair of run-scoring singles and a walk as the Cubs evened the World Series at one game apiece with a 5-1 victory over the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field.

Now that they have wrested homefield advantage away from the Indians, the Cubs could win the World Series by taking all three games at home this weekend.

Schwarber, who had 5 home runs in the postseason as a rookie last year, continues to leave baseball people slack-jawed by his exploits.

It wasn't until last week that Schwarber was even cleared to play baseball, and now he finds himself in the World Series. It looks like he has both his swing and his eye at the plate back. It can't be that easy.

"No, it's not that easy, first off," he said. "Baseball's a crazy game. It will do crazy things to you, but this is the moment that we all look for when we were little kids, to play in the World Series and win it. We just took a small step today, but we've still got a long way to go."

What Schwarber's left-handed bat has done is transform the Cubs' lineup. It also has given a spark to a team that would seem not to need one. After all, the Cubs won 103 games in the regular season before beating the Giants and the Dodgers in the National League playoffs.

"You saw, he jacks everybody up," manager Joe Maddon said. "Those couple big hits he got again, really, (teammate Anthony) Riz really responded to it well. The whole group did. It makes your lineup longer."

The Cubs got going quickly against Cleveland starting pitcher Trevor Bauer. With one out in the first inning, Kris Bryant singled and came home on Rizzo's double.

Schwarber's first RBI single came in the third. The Cubs chased Bauer after 3⅔ innings and 87 pitches. They scored three times in the fifth, with Schwarber adding another run-scoring single.

The beneficiary was starting pitcher Jake Arrieta, who got the win by working 5⅔ innings and giving up 2 hits and a run. Arrieta had a no-hitter until giving up a double to Jason Kipnis with one out in the sixth.

The Cubs' starting pitcher, a workout freak of some legend, marveled at Schwarber's rehab from knee surgery he underwent in April after an outfield collision during the first week of the season.

"You just look at Kyle, and we've all watched him continue to progress throughout his rehab, and you can't say enough about him," Arrieta said. "I said this a few days ago, but he's in the training room and the weight room four, five, hours a day. He's in a constant sweat."

He may put Cleveland pitchers into a cold sweat this weekend if doctors clear him to play the outfield. The Cubs will work out Friday at Wrigley Field, and Schwarber may take flyballs in left field to test the knee. So far, he has not been cleared to play the field.

"We'll see where it goes," he said.

It's going back to Wrigley Field, just where Maddon likes it.

"It's always good," he said. It's always crazy good, but I have to imagine a little bit more than that, especially coming back at 1-1. I think the folks will be jacked up about the win tonight. But it's the finest venue in professional sports and maybe in all of sports."

As for Schwarber, he maybe be feeling little or no pain these days. He's certainly feeling no pressure.

"Hey, man, I'm living the dream," he said. "We're playing in the World Series. What else can you ask for? I'm just going to keep riding the wave 'til it ends."

• Follow Bruce's Cubs and baseball reports on Twitter @BruceMiles2112.

Contreras to get bulk of playing time

John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.comChicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo (44) reacts after hitting an RBI double in the first inning during Game 2 of the Major League Baseball World Series between the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago Cubs Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2016, in Cleveland.
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