Miller grinds to turn away Cubs twice

CLEVELAND — Andrew Miller whirled off the pitcher’s mound, pumped his fist, then paused. He snapped his head back over his shoulder, searching, waiting for umpire Chris Guccione to confirm a third strike. Was it a swing? A rare moment of uncertainty for the planet’s best relief pitcher, in a rare moment of stress for the American League champions.

Other doubts would follow, but perhaps there was never need for Miller or the Indians to fret. Once Guccione curled his fingers into a fist, Miller’s strikeout of David Ross capped a bases-loaded escape in the seventh inning of Cleveland’s 6-0 World Series Game 1 win over the Cubs. Skirting a second Chicago rally one inning later, Miller completed what may end up being his signature postseason performance.

• Game 2: Tonight, 7 p.m. ET game time on FOX (6 p.m. ET pregame show on FS1)

Game Date Time (air time/game time) Matchup TV Gm 1 Oct. 25   CLE 6, CHC 0 Gm 2 Oct. 26 7 p.m. (6 p.m. pregame show on FS1) CHC @ CLE FOX Gm 3 Oct. 28 7:30 p.m./8 p.m. CLE @ CHC FOX Gm 4 Oct. 29 7:30 p.m./8 p.m. CLE @ CHC FOX *Gm 5 Oct. 30 8 p.m. CLE @ CHC FOX *Gm 6 Nov. 1 7:30 p.m./8 p.m. CHC @ CLE FOX *Gm 7 Nov. 2 7:30 p.m./8 p.m. CHC @ CLE FOX * If necessary | All times listed ET • World Series coverageShop for postseason gear: Cubs | Indians

“It was a grind,” Miller said. “I think I can be better than I was, but it’s a tribute to them, the at-bats that they put together. I feel like I had some opportunities I just missed on, and that’s a credit to their ability to take some pitches and to their preparation. We got it done; that’s all that matters.”

The Indians hope that’s all that …

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