The 174 combined seasons between titles for the two clubs is the most in World Series history.
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John Dankanich’s plan for the World Series this week is a busy one: After the Chicago Cubs staved off elimination by beating Cleveland, he planned to drive home to Alabama from Wrigley Field, take his son trick-or-treating on Monday, watch Game 6 on Tuesday night and then get back in his vehicle to drive to Cleveland to see Game 7. This talented young lineup was built for the World Series stage, and a win like this one in Game 5 is only possible because of the group’s ability to rebound while facing adversity.
“We haven’t been able to celebrate in front of our fans once this postseason, so it would be definitely special to have the opportunity to do it in front of them”, first baseman Mike Napoli said Monday.
Though the excitement wasn’t enough to get the win, it’s ok. But only once all year was he charged with as many as three earned runs in back-to-back starts (at the Mets and Pirates in early July).
Well, look who is on the brink of hoisting the hardware.
In the fourth, Kris Bryant tattooed Bauer for a leadoff homer, and by the time the inning was over, he had allowed three runs and put the Indians in a hole that proved to be just a little too deep. Francisco Lindor contributed an RBI single, helping Francona improve to 11-1 in the World Series. “We’re all packing up to go home, sleep in our own beds and get after it when the time comes”.
“It’s awesome. But we’ve still got some work to do”, leadoff man Dexter Fowler said.
It’s the Indians’ turn to lug their franchise’s losing legacy around the bases and into the field Tuesday in Game 6 at Progressive Field, a burden much heavier in front of expectant fans whose unavoidable anxiety just adds to the weight.
A performance the Cubs would love to see a couple more times. We make an effort to protect discussions from repeated comments â either by the same reader or different readers.
“We feel very confident, especially being at home”, said second baseman Jason Kipnis. “That was part of it. But then again, we just have to do more offensively to give ourselves a chance”.
For a Chicago Cubs team playing in its first World Series since 1945 and seeking its first title since 1908, overcoming another few unlikely historic baseball feats is no big deal. By then, the team that scored the third-most runs in the major leagues this season was riding a ghoulish 1-for-27 streak with runners on base.
After Jason Heyward struck out, Javier Baez bunted for a base hit, loading the bases with one out.
I was in Chicago and watched the highly underrated Indians sap the energy out of Wrigley by breaking open Game 4 and taking a late 7-1 lead.
Mr. October belongs to Reggie Jackson, but is there a Mr. November among the Indians or Cubs? They recall all too well having the Red Sox down 3-1 in the 2007 ALCS only to lose three straight to an opponent that advanced to sweep the World Series. Santana’s third homer of the playoffs silenced the crowd of 41,706, and the Indians seized the momentum from there. “So we had that all in play”. “It’s what we live for”, Kipnis said. “At this kind of stage it’s what we all dream about”. Overall, Lester has been the superior pitcher this season. Kluber will be on short rest, though that doesn’t matter.
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Schwarber, who hasn’t been cleared medically to play the field after returning from ligament damage in his left knee that kept him sidelined since April, was relegated to pinch-hitting duty in Chicago and went hitless in his one at-bat. But he has chose to stick with Bauer, who lost Game 2 but can now make up for his off-field mishap. The Indians nicked him for a run in the sixth, and Carl Edwards Jr. took over to begin the seventh with a 3-2 edge. Over his last eight regular and postseason starts, Bauer’s numbers: a 6.75 ERA, a.310 batting average against and 1.578 walks and hits per inning pitched. Corey Kluber, who has won both his starts in this Series, will be ready again on three days’ rest for Game 7 – if necessary. That’s a 1.76 ERA.
