On November 2, 2016, the Chicago
Cubs would be playing the Cleveland Indians in Game 7 of the 2016 World
Series. Chicago was down in the series 3-1 before staging a comeback to
clinch their first World Series in 108 years. Since Cleveland had
home-field advantage Games 6 & 7 were to be played in Cleveland's
own Progressive Field.
In the Top of the 1st Inning, Dexter
Fowler, homered on fly ball to center field. Corey Kluber was the
starting pitcher for the Indians and had been absolutely dominant in
the post season. It had been a trend in the post season that whichever
team scored first, that team would go on to win the game. Scoring first
in a Game 7 is crucial because the away team can quiet the crowd down
and pick up momentum.
In the Bottom of the 3rd inning, the
Indians Carlos Santana singled on a line drive to right fielder Jason
Heyward. Coco Crisp was the runner on 3rd Base at the time and was able
to score off of Santanas hit. It was beginning to be evident that this
Game 7 was going to be a slugfest.
In the Top of the 4th, with runners on
1st and 3rd, Cub's Addison Russell hit a sac-fly to center fielder
Rajai Davis. Kris Bryant was able to tag up on third to give Chicago a
2-1 lead. Wilson Contreras was the next batter up and hit a 2-out
double to center fielder Rajai Davis. Chicago's Ben Zobrist reached
home on the double to give the CubÕs a 3-1 lead. The Cubs were picking
up momentum and finally hitting off of Cleveland's ace on the mound,
Corey Kluber.
In the Top of the 5th, Javier Baez
homered on a fly ball to right center field giving Chicago a 4-1 lead.
The Cubs had already scored 4 runs off of Kluber through 4 IP. Kluber
had not given up 4 runs in the entire postseason (34.1 IP). Cleveland's
Andrew Miller would come in to replace Kluber in the 5th Inning. Miller
would give up a single to Dexter Fowler and then would be able to get
Cub's DH Kyle Schwarber to hit into a DP. With two outs, Miller would
then walk Kris Bryant. Anthony Rizzo then hit a single on a line drive
to right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall, allowing Kris Bryant to score from
first base to give the Chicago a 5-1 lead. Things were beginning to look
good for Chicago, perhaps too good.
In the Bottom of the 5th, Cubs pitcher
Kyle "The Professor" Hendricks would get the first two outs. He then
walked Carlos Santana. Chicago's manager, Joe Maddon, made the tough
decision to pull Hendricks and let ace, Jon Lester, come in to relieve.
Jon Lester would ultimately give up a single to Jason Kipnis. Cubs
catcher, David Ross, would make a throwing error to allow Kipnis and
Santana to advance to 2nd and 3rd. Jon Lester would then throw a wild
pitch to Fransico Lindor. The ball bounced off of the ground and hit
catcher, Ross, in the mask. Santana and Kipnis would both be able to
score off of the wild pitch, cutting Chicago's lead to 5-3.
In the top of the 6th inning, Chicago's
David Ross hit a homer to center field off of Andrew Miller. David
Ross, age 39, would become the oldest player to hit a home run in a
Game 7 of the World Series.
In the bottom of the 8th, Cubs closer
Aroldis Chapman would come in to get the last 4 outs of the game. With
a man on first, Chapman gives up a double on a line drive to center
fielder Dexter Fowler. Jose Ramirez would score for the Indians,
cutting the lead to 6-4. With a man on second, Rajai Davis hit one of
the most clutch home runs in the World Series to tie the game at 6-6.
Aroldis Chapman, arguably the best closer in baseball, blew a 3-run
lead in the 8th inning. After an intense 9th inning, neither team would
score. The game would go to extra innings.
Before the 10th inning could begin, rain
started to fall on Progressive Field. With the current conditions, the
officials had to call a rain delay.
Once the game resumed, Cubs fans and
baseball fans all around the world had their eyes glued to the
television. In the top of the 10th, Kyle Schwarber blasted a single to
right fielder Michael Martinez. Due to an injured knee, Albert Almora
Jr. would replace Schwarber on first base. Kris Bryant would hit a
flyout to center fielder Rajai Davis. Albert Almora Jr. would then make
a risky play and tag up, to get into scored position; he was safe. With
a man on 2nd, Indians manager, Terry Francona, intentionally walks
Anthony Rizzo. Francona made this decision because it could open up a
force out, or even better, a double play. However, left fielder Ben
Zobrist would then crush a ball over the 3rd base line. Zobrist would
hit a double, allowing Almora Jr. to score and advance Rizzo from 1st
to 3rd. Cubs would then take a 7-6 lead.
Francona decided to walk Addison Russell to load the
bases. Cubs would score again off a single to left fielder Brandon
Guyer. Chicago would take an 8-6 lead; 3 outs away from clinching their
first World Series in 108 years.
Maddon would make a pitching
substitution in the bottom of the 10th inning, replacing Chapman with
rookie Carl Edwards. Edwards was able to get two quick outs before
giving up a walk to Brandon Guyer. Rajai Davis would head up to bat.
Davis was the one who hit the tying home run in the 8th. If Davis were
to hit another home run, he could tie the game again. Brandon Guyer
would advance to 2nd on defensive indifference. With a runner on 2nd,
Davis would single on a line drive to center fielder Dexter Fowler.
Brandon Guyer would score, cutting Chicago's lead in half, making the
game 8-7. Maddon replaced Carl Edwards with reliever Mike Montgomery,
who had been hot all post season. The Cubs were one out away from being
crowned World Series Champions. Mike Montgomery forced Michael Martinez
to ground out softly to third baseman Kris Bryant. Kris Bryant fielded
the ground ball cleanly, throwing Martinez out at first base. The
Chicago Cubs had won their first World Series since 1908 in arguably
one of the best Game 7Õs ever played.
