CLEVELAND: When he broke his right thumb in April, Indians catcher Roberto Perez might have felt like his 2016 season was wasted.
But he may be on an emotional path to redemption and stardom in the playoffs.
Perez became the first Indians player to hit two home runs in one World Series game and the first in the majors since Anaheim's Troy Glaus in 2002 as the Indians turned back the Chicago Cubs 6-0 in Game 1 Tuesday night at Progressive Field.
Perez's solo shot to left field in the fourth inning off left-hander Jon Lester gave the Tribe a 3-0 lead. Perez put the game away with a three-run blast in the eighth when right-hander Hector Rondon hung a slider.
"I don't think I've ever had a night like that," Perez said.
"Their nine hole hitter Perez kicked us, man. He drove in four points today, so give him a lot of credit," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.
The Indians' dugout certainly did, joyously celebrating Perez's second home run.
Coming into the night, Perez was batting .174 in eight postseason games with one home run. But he may be earning the reputation as a tone-setter because his previous long ball came in Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Red Sox. That day he was one of three Indians who went deep in the third inning of a 5-4 victory.
Perez also played a big role behind the plate as Tribe pitchers recorded 15 strikeouts, nine by right-hander Corey Kluber.
Afterward, Perez spoke sincerely about how much his two home runs meant to him.
Most of his season was a struggle after he broke his thumb and suffered ligament damage on a tag play at the plate on April 30. His rehab assignment ended prematurely when Yan Gomes suffered a shoulder injury, forcing Perez to be activated on July 18. After he returned, Perez went 0 for 16 before getting his first hit.
Now he's proving invaluable in the postseason and has cemented his role as the starting catcher. The Indians are carrying two in the World Series, but Francona implied before the game that Gomes, who made a miraculous comeback after breaking his right wrist in his final rehab game on Sept. 14, isn't likely to play much.
"For me it means a lot," Perez said. "I've come a long ways. I'm playing with a lot of confidence right now. I'm not trying to do too much at the plate. I'm just trying to control my emotions.
"First World Series appearance and just trying to go out there and compete and get good (at-bats) and try and get on base and make something happen. It's an unbelievable feeling."
Perez didn't cry, but shortstop Francisco Lindor said he almost did after Perez's second home run. Both are natives of Puerto Rico.
"I told him I was proud, how much he’s helping us win," Lindor said. "I keep telling him every time, 'You want to make a name, this is where you do it.' He’s stepping up huge. I told him, ‘I’m proud of you man. I’m proud of you.’ I even thanked him. Because the way that he’s doing it for his family, for his city and for Puerto Rico, it’s huge.
"I almost cried when he hit the home run. He’s one of my buddies on the team. I’m just super happy, super excited for him and his family.”
Lindor thought of Perez's injury and how he struggled when he came back.
"You take the first 70 at-bats off, he had a great offensive year," Lindor said. "He spent a lot of time without hitting, didn’t play a lot in April, then he gets hurt. Spends a lot of time without seeing live pitching, goes to the minor leagues, gets a couple of at-bats, and then comes up here with the best pitching in the world and has to battle."
Like Lindor, Kluber can see how far Perez has come.
"His confidence, you can see that growing every game, every series with him, with the team," Kluber said of Perez. "You can see the difference in the way he feels about himself right now. He's not out there searching or doing things like that. He's simplifying it, trying to have good at-bats and it's working."
Indians manager Terry Francona said what Perez did at the plate was exciting to watch.
"It gave us a cushion early. And then late, come spread it out," Francona said. "In the seventh or eighth inning, that wasn't looking like a 6-0 game."
The biggest beneficiary was closer Cody Allen, warming up for the ninth when Perez boosted the lead to 6-0.
"Roberto's kind of gotten his feet under him as of late," Allen said. "He’s swung the bat really well down the stretch for us. He does an unbelievable job with our staff and he throws about as good as anybody. He’s worked hard and he deserves to be here and we’re all happy for him."