Cubs send World Series back to Cleveland with Wrigley win
CHICAGO – There might be some question about whether the Chicago Cubs’ season will be deemed a success if they don’t win the World Series.
But there was no question about their sense of urgency Sunday night as the Cubs avoided elimination when they held on for a tense 3-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians in Game 5 of the World Series before a tense crowd of 41,711 at Wrigley Field.
Closer Aroldis Chapman – making his first appearance in the seventh inning since May 17, 2012 – pitched out of trouble in the seventh and eighth innings and threw a perfect ninth to send the Series back to Cleveland for Game 6 Tuesday night.
“We’re all about writing our history,” Kris Bryant said. “This team is a special one.”
The Cubs took some small but effective steps in snapping out of their offensive rut with a three-run fourth that included four consecutive hits for the first time in the Series. Bryant fueled the rally when he led off with a home run.
Nevertheless, manager Joe Maddon – who staunchly maintains the Cubs season is a success regardless of the Series outcome – wasn’t taking any chances when he pulled Jon Lester after six innings despite the lefthander limiting the Indians to four hits, no walks and two earned runs in a 90-pitch outing.
Lester admitted he was taxed and thought it would be better to allow the bullpen to start with a clean inning.
Maddon summoned Chapman with one out in the seventh after Carl Edwards Jr. allowed a hit to Mike Napoli, and fellow rookie Willson Contreras was charged with a passed ball.
The crowd held its breath as Chapman struck out Jose Ramirez, hit Brandon Guyer with a pitch and induced Roberto Perez to ground to second with the tying and go-ahead runs on base to end the threat.
In the eighth, Chapman’s failure to cover first base resulted in a one-out hit for Rajai Davis, who stole second and third around a foul out. But Chapman struck out Francisco Lindor to end the threat. For the first time in the Series, the Cubs overcame a deficit, which they incurred when Ramirez hit a solo homer against Lester in the second. Bryant’s tying homer barely cleared the wall in left-center, but it was reminiscent of many of his extra-base hits that made him a National League most valuable player candidate.
The Indians pulled within 3-2 in the sixth, when Lindor drove in Davis with a single.
The Cubs provided some entertainment on three pops in the first four innings, with Rizzo catching a Carlos Santana foul pop that grazed off Ross’ glove near the Indians dugout.
In the third, right fielder Jason Heyward leaned over the wall but had to reach back to make a catch of a Trevor Bauer foul pop. With two out in the fourth, Ross moved about 10 feet in front of the Indians’ dugout to catch Napoli’s pop, only to be knocked off his feet by Rizzo after making the catch.
Inside and outside Wrigley Field, the faithful raised their beers and their voices in celebration of the 3-2 victory and the resurrection of the team’s chances to win its first baseball crown in more than a century. The 102-yearold ballpark shook from the excitement and palpable relief.