WRIGLEYVILLE — The Cubs' first World Series game in 71 years did not go well as they lost 6-0 at Cleveland on Tuesday night.
The Cubs had the bases loaded with no outs in the seventh, but couldn't get a run across. They also had two runners on in the eighth inning, but recently returned Cubs slugger Kyle Schwarber struck out to end the inning.
Major League Baseball pushed Wednesday's Game 2 to start an hour earlier, at 6:08 p.m., due to potential rain.
The Chicago Cubs are facing the Cleveland Indians in the North Side team's first World Series appearance since 1945. The first two games will take place in Ohio before coming to Chicago for Game 3 Friday, Game 4 Saturday and, if necessary, Game 5 Sunday.
While still early in the World Series, "I don't like the way this feels," one Cubs fan said in passing. "It's bad."
Sharon Abbott of Lakeview is still ecstatic about her Cubs making the World Series, and thought she's disheartened with Tuesday's game, she said she still has faith.
"This team has a lot of heart," she said. "They have a lot of persistence. They seem to surprise you."
Luckily, it seems fans will enjoy rain-free (albeit chilly) games this weekend in Chicago.
Still, a heavy police presence was in force Tuesday near the ballpark. Clusters of officers outnumbered the fans on Clark Street as the game began at 7 p.m.
Clusters of police officers near Wrigley Field outnumbered fans on the street at the start of Game 1 of the World Series, which began around 7 p.m. in Cleveland. [DNAinfo/Ariel Cheung]
Few bars charged a cover, with larger venues like Old Crow charging $10 — a fraction of the entry fees during the final NLCS game in Wrigley Saturday.
"This is a new experience for almost all of us," said 44th Ward Ald. Tom Tunney in a newsletter. "Our neighborhood will be in the national spotlight." He advised neighbors to carry photo IDs and proof of residence to access blocked streets during game days.
Parking restrictions will be in place for away games through 4 a.m. Thursday, making way for emergency vehicle access and crowd control.
For home games, which will all begin at 7:08 p.m., Sheffield from Addison to Waveland and Waveland from Sheffield to Clark will be closed to traffic starting three hours before the first pitch.
For one Indians fan who lives in Chicago, it hasn't been hard to find fellow Cleveland backers — or make peace with the Cubs fans he knows in the city.
"Cubs fans are good, and there's a mutual respect for how long it's been for each team," said Mike Tressa, 28.
His Indians fandom dates back to the 1995 World Series, which Cleveland lost to the Atlanta Braves. Tressa had begun playing baseball himself in Pennsylvania Little League, and he looked up to the successful Ohio team.
"They were good, so I stuck with them," Tressa said.
Cleveland Indians fan Mike Tressa watches Game 1 of the World Series at Redmonds Ale House in Wrigleyville. [DNAinfo/Ariel Cheung]
He moved to Chicago in 2014 and has attended almost a dozen Cubs games with his girlfriend. The pair considered going to Cleveland for a World Series game, but despite tickets being much cheaper than at Wrigley Field, they struck out.
They've also debated what will happen if the other's team wins.
"I said even though I love the Cubs, I'll be slightly happy if the Indians win because I know how happy it'll make you," said girlfriend Elese Merkovsky. "I asked if he would be slightly happy for me, and he said, 'No. Not at all.' "
While Tressa said he respects the fun-loving Cubs, he doesn't have to dig deep to know who he'd prefer to win it all.
"It's 100 percent the Indians," he said. "Not even close."
The Cubs and Wrigley Field are 95 percent owned by an entity controlled by a trust established for the benefit of the family of Joe Ricketts, owner and CEO of DNAinfo.com. Joe Ricketts has no direct involvement in the management of the iconic team.
RELATED:
• When Will The EAMUS CATULI Sign Outside Wrigley Field Change?
• Paying Your Respects To 'Mr. Cub' Ernie Banks? Here's Where He's Buried
• Dexter Fowler Would Be The First Black Cubs Player In The World Series
• Not Everyone Loves The Cubs: South Side Bar Welcomes Haters
• Cubs Won't Offer Aldermen World Series Tickets ... And They're Furious
• Cubs Fans All Over The World Celebrate Trip To World Series
• Cubs Win National League Title, And Wrigleyville Goes Crazy (PHOTOS)
• What The Cubs Mean To Me: Cub Fans Share Their Favorite Memories
For more neighborhood news, listen to DNAinfo Radio here.
