This time, it was the Chicago Cubs that got the lead in the early going, and this time, it was Chicago’s ace out of the bullpen that had the extended relief session and helped his team gain the victory.
The Cubs have lived to fight another day in the World Series, as they beat the Cleveland Indians 3-2 in Game 5 of the World Series. The Indians lead the series by a 3-2 margin, and the two teams will head to Cleveland for Game 6 of the series Tuesday night.
The Cubs got excellent starting pitching from Jon Lester, who gave up a second-inning home run to Jose Ramirez and little else in his six innings of work. Carl Edwards Jr. came on in the seventh inning to record one out and give up one hit, and that’s when Chicago manager Joe Maddon brought in fire-balling closer Aroldis Chapman.
Chapman has been anything but a sure thing for the Cubs since he was acquired from the Yankees, and he has usually done his best work when closing out games by pitching just the ninth inning.
But this time, Chapman pitched 2.2 innings, and he closed the game with a flourish, as he struck out Ramirez.
The Cubs scored three runs in the fourth inning to take the lead. Kris Bryant sparked the rally with a leadoff home run, his first of the series.
While all the Indians need to do is win one of the final two games at home to win their first World Series since 1948, the Cubs will send 2015 Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta to the mound in Game 6 against Josh Tomlin.
Arrieta has a 1-1 record in this year’s postseason, and he was victorious for the Cubs in Game 2 of the World Series in Cleveland. He pitched 5.2 innings of two-hit, one-run baseball, and when he is on his game, he is as difficult to hit as any pitcher in the game.
Tomlin was in top form in Game 3 when he pitched 4.2 innings of one-hit baseball without giving up a run. The Indians eventually picked up the 1-0 win in that game, as relief pitchers Andrew Miller, Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen finished the job for the Indians.
If Cleveland manager Terry Francona holds onto that strategy, Tomlin probably won’t pitch more than five innings in Game 6.
Arrieta can pitch longer than that, but Maddon may not ask him for much more than the six innings Lester pitched Sunday.
While the final two games will be played in Cleveland’s Progressive Field under American League rules, it may help the Cubs because they will be able to use slugger Kyle Schwarber as the designated hitter.
Schwarber, who tore two ligaments in his knee in early April, has not been cleared to play the field and was only able to pinch hit in the games at Wrigley Field. He had three hits in the two earlier games in Cleveland and is a major force in the lineup.
Prediction
Arrieta may have a more difficult time in his second World Series start because he has not been as consistent in the second half of the season as he was in the first half.
Tomlin will also have a hard time matching what he did at Wrigley field. Look for both teams to come through offensively.
Look for Schwarber to come through with his first World Series home run, and the Cubs should pick up the victory in Game 6 and extend the World Series to a seventh and decisive game Wednesday night.
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