Get your 3-1 jokes out of the way now.
Thanks to a 9-3 win over the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on Tuesday night, the Chicago Cubs knotted the World Series at three games apiece and will have a chance to cap a comeback of epic proportions in Game 7 on Wednesday night.
The Cubs entered Game 6 having scored five runs over the last three games, but they dwarfed that total by the time the third inning was over.
Kris Bryant opened the scoring with a two-out solo home run in the first inning off Josh Tomlin:
That was just the start of an offensive avalanche, as Anthony Rizzo and Ben Zobrist followed Bryant’s lead with back-to-back singles and the Indians came unraveled when Tyler Naquin and Lonnie Chisenhall misplayed a fly ball by Addison Russell that plated both baserunners.
The New York Post‘s Joel Sherman broke down Cleveland’s first-inning collapse:
As it turned out, Russell had even more left in the tank.
The Cubs loaded the bases and chased Tomlin one out into the third, and Russell stepped to the plate to deliver a decisive blow:
According to USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale, Russell’s grand slam was the first in franchise history in World Series history and the first by any player in the Fall Classic since the Chicago White Sox’s Paul Konerko in 2005.
Cubs starter Jake Arrieta didn’t allow a hit through three innings, but the Indians threatened in a big way when the bottom of the fourth rolled around.
Mike Napoli singled to score Jason Kipnis, who had led off with a double, and Cleveland proceeded to load the bases with two outs. Naquin, however, struck out.
ESPN The Magazine‘s Buster Olney relayed some telling numbers to emphasize just how much the rookie has struggled against Arrieta in the Fall Classic:
Kipnis slammed a solo homer off Arrieta to cut the Indians’ deficit to 7-2 with two outs in the fifth, and Chicago’s starter recorded three more outs before he walked Chisenhall and was pulled in favor of Mike Montgomery. All told, Arrieta allowed two runs on three hits, three walks and one hit batter and struck out nine.
As ESPN Stats & Info noted, that last figure put him near the top of an esteemed list:
Aroldis Chapman—who recorded an eight-out save in Game 5—entered with two on and two out in the seventh, and he induced an inning-ending groundout, beating Francisco Lindor to the bag by a hair, as Fox Sports MLB showed on Twitter:
Chapman also pitched a scoreless eighth, and Rizzo tacked on a two-run shot to right field in the top of the ninth.
With two straight victories in tow, the Cubs now face the possibility of ending their 108-year championship drought in a Game 7 that will feel somewhat familiar, according to NFL.com’s Don Banks:
Per MLB.com’s Carrie Muskat, a team hasn’t come back from 3-1 down and won a World Series on the road since the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1979.
But in order to do so, Chicago will need to solve Corey Kluber—who will make his second straight start on three days’ rest in Game 7. In the World Series, Cleveland’s ace is 2-0 and has allowed only one run on nine hits, one walk and a hit batter while striking out 15 over 12 innings.
If Kluber turns in another dominant outing, the Indians will be in line to snap their title drought—which dates to 1948.
The Cubs, meanwhile, will counter with Kyle Hendricks. The National League ERA leader played the role of hero in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series, holding the Los Angeles Dodgers to two hits in 7.1 innings, but Chicago lost his only World Series start after Cleveland got to him for six hits over 4.1 innings in Game 3.
So, if recent history is any indication, runs should be at a premium with Kluber and Hendricks on the bump.
In other words, expect plenty of drama as tensions rise with a world championship on the line Wednesday night.
Postgame Reaction
Cubs manager Joe Maddon spoke to Fox Sports’ Tom Verducci about his decision to leave Chapman in for 20 pitches:
Later, Maddon told reporters a certain starter will be available in relief in Game 7, according to Pete Byrne of WSBT in Indiana:
Chapman said he’ll be available to pitch as long as necessary, even though he’s assumed a heavy workload of late, per MLB Network’s Jon Morosi:
Indians manager Terry Francona was upbeat despite the loss, via SportsTime Ohio:
“It’s Game 7,” Francona said, according to Newsday‘s Erik Boland. “You’ve got two really, really good pitchers, and it will be exciting.”
“It’ll be exciting to come to the ballpark tomorrow,” he added, per the Toronto Sun‘s Scott Mitchell. “Shoot, I might just wear my uniform home.”
Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com