Not sure how exactly you can describe game 7, but several come to mind, with one being “Heartbreaker” by the Bee Gee’s, but regardless it’ll be a night to remember!
A game played at Progressive Field it was filled with passion, drama and excitement that ended with one of the most illustrious and momentous games you could plan on watching.
The Cubs were desperately trying to overcome a 3-1 series deficit to somehow win their first championship which dates back to 1908, while the Indians last championship win was in 1948.
A mild Wednesday night turned into a stormy Thursday morning both on and off the diamond with the players having as much if not more enthusiasm as the grounds crew during the rain delay.
In a game 7 that took 10 exhausting innings played over 4 hours and 45 exhilarating minutes that eventually ended at 12:47 AM.
While the game seemed long it wasn’t as long as the 108 year drought the franchise has persevered which can now became an instant classic.
The Cubs had not only the longest championship drought in baseball, but in the entire professional sports world.
True the Indians have come close in the past 68 years with the most notably when they held a one-run lead in the 9th inning in game 7 of the 97 World Series.
They were instantly crushed when Mesa simply blew the save when and Marlins Edgar Renterai walked it off in the 11th inning.
This game was only the 5th extra-inning, winner-take-all World Series game that has ever been played in the history of the MLB.
Well we are used to the rain; this was the first to feature an actual rain delay in extra innings, which might have helped the Cubs win the Championship.
photo credit – nbc4i.com
It was also a first game that the winning team, threw the lead away in the 8th inning, but somehow managed to eventually pull out a win.
It featured a leadoff home run, by Cubs Dexter Fowler and a game that Chapman was unable to save when brought in.
It was a game in which the go-ahead run in extra innings was scored by a player (Albert Almora) who had failed to score in the entire post season.
The first few innings it actually looked as though the Cubs might pull this off the old-fashioned method, by simply winning, but let’s face it – they are the Cubs.
Entering the bottom of the 5th they held a 5-1 lead and no team has managed to “blow” a game 7 lead since 1924.
Lester was sent in for his first relief appearance in nine years, then somehow managed to wild-pitch in two runs on the same pitch, narrowing the Cubs lead to 5-3.
This was followed by Chapman’s return to the mound in the bottom of the 8th and did the unexpected in his three months as a Cub.
First he gave hits to the first three hitters he faced, then delivered his first home run as a Cub.
A shocking two-out, two-strike game tying run that tipped off the left-field camera that changed the game from joy to sorrow in a single second.
In a look of horror the 38,104 in attendance were stunned and Chapman was on the mound in a world of his own.
Faced with dismay, thinking he had blown the series to the shock of everyone it started to rain.
This could have been a blessing for the Cubs as they immediately retreated to the clubhouse and as Jason Heyward told the media “sometimes rain can be a bad thing, but the way it ended, I felt we needed that rain.”
When they were in the clubhouse he reminded the guy’s how good they are and how special they are.”
A short rain delay of 17 minutes the game resumed and the Cubs took were set to hit in the top of the 10th.
Schwarber lined his third hit of the game (7th of the World Series) into right field and was immediately replaced by pinch runner Almora.
Byrant hammered one to the centre-field wall and speedster Almora felt the time was right and headed to 2nd.
With Rizzo coming to the plate the Indians intentionally walked him, allowing them to pitch to Zobrist.
Shaw delivered his hardest pitch of the night, which was a 96 mph cutter toward the outside corner, which Zobrist managed to tag and get it past third baseman Jose Ramerez.
Almora told the media “the moment the ball left the bat; I knew I was going to score.”
It wasn’t over yet and the Indians intentionally walked Russell to pitch to the Cubs third catcher (Miguel Montero) of the night with the bases full.
The Indians were aware that it was almost three weeks since Montero last and only hit of the postseason.
He somehow connected and tagged an RBI single down the left side opening the Cubs lead to 8-6.
Chapman was exhausted so they went to the “pen” and sent rookie right-hander Carl Edwards to them within one out.
Utility player Martinez had not hit in over seven weeks managed to get one final curveball, which was the Cub’s 172nd pitch of the night and the final of the 2016 World Series.
The number 108 is now forever frozen in time and is no longer a symbol of misery, but rather a symphony of ecstasy for the north side of Chicago
The win see’s the Cub’s end the curse, but for Cleveland it continues.
They are planning the parade Friday at 11 AM (CT).
