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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Sport
Bryan Armen Graham, Tim Hill, Tom Lutz (earlier) and David Lengel (now)

World Series 2016 Game 7: Chicago Cubs beat Cleveland Indians – as it happened

Chicago Cubs win first World Series title since 1908

It's over!

The Cubs will wake up as champions for the first time in more than a century, and Cleveland fans, who should be proud of this ballclub, will begin to pick up the pieces. The season is over, winter is coming and months will pass before the carousel starts up for another round. It’s been a historic playoffs - thank for following it with us. Stay tuned for more World Series coverage, but for now, thanks for reading, and wherever you are, good morning, good afternoon and goodnight.

Updated

It happened!

It wouldn’t have been the same if Chicago steamrolled over Cleveland.

It needed to be hard earned, they needed to be pressed to the limit. The Cubs needed to climb out of a 3-1 hole, because if you’re going to undo 108 years of history, it has to come in a unique way. They had to blow a 5-1 lead. They had to watch their nearly flawless closer melt down. They had to bring on a pair of back-end roster relievers to pull it out.

It’s not that the trauma validates the achievement - a championship is a championship, as a sweep or in seven. But for this franchise, the lovable losers, it had to be tedious, heart-stopping and dramatic for the drought to end in a way that felt right

And it did.

Congratulations to the Cubs, and the Cleveland Indians, who put baseball on top and turned October and November a into in festival of the game.

Updated

How about that? I mean (shaking his head) I’ve seen the guys and the coaches and the players who have been through it all, and the fans...it’s unbelievable, to be a part of this, I don’t have words to really tell you how I feel about this, I think it’s all surreal.

-Jon Lester

It’s gonna be up there!

It happened, Chicago it happened we did it we’re World Champions! I can’t believe it...I can’t even put it into words...we’re in the books, this team is in history together we’re brothers forever!

-Anthony Rizzo

Cubs 8-7 Indians, Final

Mike Martinez’ grounder lands into the glove of Kris Bryant - he fires to first in time and THE IMPOSSIBLE HAS FINALLY HAPPENED!

After 108 years, countless heartbreak, and generations of fans living without witnessing their team win a title, the drought is over!

Updated

CUBS WIN!

The Chicago Cubs have won the World Series for the first time since 1908!

Cubs 8-7 Indians, bottom of the 10th

That will do it for Edwards Jr - here comes Mike Montgomery to get the hardest out. Breathe everyone, breathe.

Updated

RUN! Cubs 8-7 Indians, bottom of the 10th

Davis - a line drive base hit to center, Guyer, who had taken second on defensive indifference comes around to score! We have ourselves a one-run ballgame!

Cubs 8-6 Indians, bottom of the 10th

BALL FOUR! Here comes Rajai Davis, who seems to have some sort of penchant for the dramatic - he represents the tying run, just as he did in the eighth. Pitching coach Chris Bosio is on for a chat. Now he’s gone - here we go.

Cubs 8-6 Indians, bottom of the 10th

Right down Broadway - 3-1.

Cubs 8-6 Indians, bottom of the 10th

It’s 3-0. Think he’s going to take this pitc?

Cubs 8-6 Indians, bottom of the 10th

It’s 2-0 to Guyer...did you think this was going to be easy?

Cubs 8-6 Indians, bottom of the 10th

Ground ball to short - Russell has it, fires to first - two down!

The Cubs are one out away and it’s all up to Guyer for Cleveland!

Cubs 8-6 Indians, bottom of the 10th

Now it’s 2-2.

Cleveland need that bloop, then a blast...but they will settle for a walk and a blast.

Cubs 8-6 Indians, bottom of the 10th

It’s o-2 to Ramirez!

Cubs 8-6 Indians, bottom of the 10th

He’s 25 and was a 48th round draft pick - now he has the first out of the biggest inning in franchise history.

Napoli goes down on strikes! THE CUBS ARE TWO OUTS AWAY! Here is Jose Ramirez.

Updated

Cubs 8-6 Indians, bottom of the 10th

Carl Edwards Jr comes on to try and save this World Series for the Cubs, just as Joe Maddon drew it up. Napoli is first.

Cubs 8-6 Indians, top of the 10th

Baez skies to center, easy for Davis, and the Cubs are THREE OUTS AWAY!

Can they hold on this time? And who is going to pitch for Chicago?

Very sharp reply!

Cubs 8-6 Indians, top of the 10th

Baez, a huge cut on a 1-1 95MPH fastball. Can Bauer get past the Cubs second baseman and keep their lead at two?

Cubs 8-6 Indians, top of the 10th

Heyward swings at a pitch barely out of the hand of Bauer and it’s 0-2. Another ball in the dirt and Heyward can’t help himself again - strike three, two down. Here is Baez.

There are some big runs on those bases.

Cubs 8-6 Indians, top of the 10th

So the bases are still loaded, there is still one out and now here comes Trevor Bauer, a starter who knows a thing or two about relieving, as he started the season in the bullpen and has been a sort of Swiss Army knife for Francona. Heyward at the playte.

Cubs 8-6 Indians, top of the 10th

Here comes Tito to get Shaw, who may or may not have been affected by the rain delay.

RUN! Cubs 8-6 Indians, top of the 10th

YES THEY CAN! Montero delivers a pinch hit RBI knock and the Cubs are suddenly up two!

Cubs 7-6 Indians, top of the 10th

Can the Cubs get that insurance run? Addison Russell is intentionally walked - so it’s bases loaded and one out for the pinch-hitting Miguel Montero

RUN! Cubs 7-6 Indians, top of the 10th

He wastes a pitch and then goes opposite field! Base hit, here comes Almora around to score - Cubs lead!

Cubs 6-6 Indians, top of the 10th

Zobrist is down in the count - it’s 1-2!

Cubs 6-6 Indians, top of the 10th

Bryant skies DEEP TO CENTER, at the wall - Davis makes the catch - Almora tags - great base running! Now Rizzo is walked intentionally, and here is Zobrist batting with runners on first and second and one out.

Cubs 6-6 Indians, top of the 10th

It’s 2-2 to Bryant. The crowd are eerily quiet...

WE'RE BACK! Cubs 6-6 Indians, top of the 10th

Schwarber steps in and promptly takes Shaw to right field, beating the shift for a lead-off base hit! He’s removed for a pinch runner after his third hit of the ninth.

Albert Almora Jr is now standing at first and Bryant is at the plate!

Chapman

FOX TV in the US is saying that Chapman was crying as he left the dugout. His season is surely done after the break, which could be ending at 12:15 EST. How about Shaw? Is he done?

Updated

A-Rod

Alex Rodriguez has been telling anyone who would listen over the past few days that Chapman is a routine guy, who likes to work clean ninth innings and that Maddon was playing with fire. A-Rod, A-Genius (rimshot).

Monday 27 October 2008

It was Game 5 of the World Series in Philadelphia where the Phillies were trying to clinch against the AL Champion Tampa Bay Rays, managed by Joe Maddon. Rain fell and fell and the game was suspended in the top of the sixth inning.

That game wasn’t resumed until Wednesday, an unprecedented move.

What about now?

Updated

For my next trick...

I will be belly-flopping across the tarp.

The umps are saying they don’t want rain to decide this game so they’ll wait it out. They expect to finish this game based on radar.

Just to recap

The Cubs were just four outs away from a World Series title when lightning struck - Rajai Davis’ two-run line-drive home run to left field tied this game up, all off Aroldis Chapman. And so we’re still in the midst of a heart stopping Game 7 of the World Series.

It’s all true.

You know what else is true? It’s raining in Cleveland and the tarps are coming out. I can’t believe I am writing that.

Cubs 6-6 Indians, bottom of the 9th

Lindor pops out gently to right, and, well, of course we are going to extra innings, right?

UN-REAL.

Cubs 6-6 Indians, bottom of the 9th

High heat - 98MPH - Kipnis can’t catch up with it - it’s his second strikeout of the night and now it’s up to Francisco Lindor.

Cubs 6-6 Indians, bottom of the 9th

The count is full to Jason Kipnis. The crowd is up, loud and ready. Will they get what they want?

Cubs 6-6 Indians, bottom of the 9th

Kipnis, down the right field line - slicing...FOUL! It’s 1-2.

Cubs 6-6 Indians, bottom of the 9th

Santana lifts slider into left field, easy for Zobrist - one down. Kipnis is next.

Cubs 6-6 Indians, bottom of the 9th

It’s 3-1 to Santana...

The Cubs bullpen is up. Lefty Mike Montgomery is throwing.

Cubs 6-6 Indians, bottom of the 9th

Here we go! Carlos Santana is first to face Chapman!

Cubs 6-6 Indians, top of the 9th

Fowler, weekly hit but deep in the infield hole up the middle - Lindor, RANGING TO HIS LEFT - he has it, makes the throw - IN TIME! INNING OVER! WOW!!!

And now a run for Cleveland will crown them champions for the first time since 1948, and here comes Aroldis Chapman back out to try and tame the top of the Tribe order!

Cubs 6-6 Indians, top of the 9th

Baez shows bunt and fouls it off! What? Are you serious? Maddon is having a very bad night to say the absolute very least.

Two down!

Now it’s down to Fowler who has had a heck of a night for the Cubs - three hits.

Cubs 6-6 Indians, top of the 9th

It’s 3-1 to Baez. Pitch, and there goes Heyward! Gomes throws it away - Heyward is on his horse - he’s going to third!

Stolen base, E-2 (catcher) and a fly ball restores the lead for the Cubs! Can Baez deliver?

Michael Martinez is in to play right field Guyer moves to left.

For those interested, here’s the ex-Yankee fan enjoying the game.

Confusion

The umps get together - but ultimately, it’s Heyward at first because the slide is deemed legal.

That means one out, a runner on, Baez coming up, Allen is heading out, Shaw is coming in.

I feel like I’ve been waiting for him my entire life.

Cubs 6-6 Indians, top of the 9th

Heyward grounds to second - could this be two? Kipnis flips to Lindor, but he’s taken out by Coghlan and Heyward is on thanks to a fielders choice.

Francona is challenging the slide - it’s a little off line but to me, not enough to call the double play. A bit late, but not illegal.

Cubs 6-6 Indians, top of the 9th

Drums beat at progressive Field, hearts beat harder. Allen continues to check the runner at first.

Cubs 6-6 Indians, top of the 9th

Allen throws over to Coghlan at first. Heyward wastes another one. His pitch count is nearly 30. Where is Shaw warming in the pen?

Cubs 6-6 Indians, top of the 9th

A blistering line drive down the line by Heyward...foul! Still 2-2.

Cubs 6-6 Indians, top of the 9th

It’s 2-2 - there’s no bunting now - Coglhlan is going but it’s fouled off!

You ain’t just whistling Dixie!

Cubs 6-6 Indians, top of the 9th

It’s raining in Cleveland!

Ross draws a lead off walk and is replaced by Chris Coughlan, who is significantly faster than Grandpa, who is now, officially retired. Heyward is next.

Stats

So if you had history happening inside history, you’re the winner tonight. A game tying home run, the first to come in the eighth inning or later, in a World Series Game 7. Rajai Davis is your answer to that pub quiz question.

Cubs 6-6 Indians, bottom of the 8th

Travis Wood is up in the bullpen - he’s one of those relievers Maddon has absolutely no faith in. Meanwhile, the three-run, two-out rally is over after Yan Gomes strikes out, and, believe it, we go to the ninth inning, tied!

LeBron likes what he sees! The internet will break!

HOME RUN! Cubs 6-6 Indians, bottom of the 8th

Rajai Davis - a line drive rocket to left has enough! IT’S OUT OF HERE! CLEVELAND HAVE HUNG A THREE-SPOT IN THE EIGHTH! We are tied - this is happening!!!!

And now Crisp has a hit!

The champ is cut and bleeding - Chapman, is flaming out, and curses are creeping up on Chicago!!

Rajai Davis rounds the bases after his two-run homer levels the game
Rajai Davis rounds the bases after his two-run homer levels the game. Photograph: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

Updated

RUN! Cubs 6-4 Indians, bottom of the 8th

Five o’clock lightning! Guyer strikes, a double in the right field gap - Ramirez comes around to score and it’s a two-run ballgame!

The Tribe are a blast away from tying this game!

Here’s comes Rajai Davis.

Updated

Cubs 6-3 Indians, bottom of the 8th

So here’s Aroldis Chapman, who has been asked to take on an incredible workload to help the Cubs take this all the way home.

He needs four outs to help make dreams come true in Chicago.

Cubs 6-3 Indians, bottom of the 8th

Ground ball to shortstop and it’s too to tough for Russell - that’s a two-out base hit for Jose Ramirez.

Here comes Maddon, there goes Lester and here comes Aroldis Chapman, on to face Guyer!

That’s 3.1 innings for Lester on just two days rest, who leaves after doing his best Madison Bumgarner impression.

Cubs 6-3 Indians, bottom of the 8th

Napoli is caught looking as the would-be Cubs curse killing architect Theo Epstein looks on with his son! That’s four K’s for Lester and now that ring is four outs away!

Cubs 6-3 Indians, bottom of the 8th

Lester is still in there - could he go all the way?

Lindor hits a rocket but it’s right to first base and Anthony Rizzo. Five outs to go.

This film is called When Grandpa Strikes!

Updated

Cubs 6-3 Indians, top of the 8th

Russell pops to the right side - easy for Napoli, side retired. Now, about these six outs...

The celebrating may cause a hole in the world.

Cubs 6-3 Indians, top of the 8th

Now Zobrist is up he cracks a sharply hit ground ball that is backhanded down the chalk by Napoli who runs over to the bag for the second out. Now it’s Russell.

Updated

Cubs 6-3 Indians, top of the 8th

Allen gets Rizzo on strikes - the ball gets away but Gomes, the new Brazilian catcher, has it and fires over to first base for the out. One down.

Cubs 6-3 Indians, bottom of the 7th

It’s 1-2 to Kipnis who chases a ball low and away and that’s the inning!

Lester roars off the Progressive Field mound as the Cubs draw even closer to that elusive World Series title, six - outs - away!

Cubs 6-3 Indians, bottom of the 7th

Lester just misses on 2-2 so the count is full to the Tribe’s backstop. Perez wastes one straight back, before Lester misses inside - a walk and a one-out base runner, who is then replaced by the speedier Naquin.

Now Santana hits a comebacker - that’s a tailor made double play ball for almost any other pitcher, but not Lester. He manages to make the throw to first base to get the runner, but Naquin is in scoring position.

Let’s see if Jason Kipnis can make him pay.

Cubs 6-3 Indians, bottom of the 7th

Lester remains and continues to retire Cleveland Indians - this time it’s Crisp, popping out to left field where Zobrist is waiting. Roberto Perez is next...

Seventh inning stretch!

Get up, shake it out, wherever you are, and enjoy this version of Take Me Out to the Ball Game from...1908.

Vintage.

Cubs 6-3 Indians, top of the 7th

Bryant whiffs and Fowler is cut down looking to run! It’s a strike’em out, throw’em out, and that ends the inning with Chicago counting down the outs!

Is it gonna happen? It may happen!

Cubs 6-3 Indians, top of the 7th

So here’s Allen, who, to be fair, has allowed zero runs in 16 and 2/3 innings. It’s not that he shouldn’t be pitching now, but Shaw should have had the inning prior, but I’m moving on now.

He has a big task - set down Kris Bryant with one down and a runner on first.

More air up there

Simon Higgins is up, up and away!

“I’m flying Auckland to San Francisco following your ball by ball coverage on dodgy United Airlines wifi. Thanks for the entertainment!”

Cubs 6-3 Indians, top of the 7th

Schwarber hits a fly ball to left that’s hooking toward the foul pole - Crisp is there to put it away near the line and that’s the first out of the inning, that as we see pictures of Bill Murray and Charlie Sheen.

Now it’s OK to go to the closer Cody Allen, says Tito. Shaw must be furious - he’s given up one run in seven ALCS and WS innings.

Email

“Got to give you a shout out “Thank you” for doing this. I’m in the mountains in AZ at a cabin, no tv, no radio, just internet. Stumbled on to this and it’s doing the job. Thanks to your effort I get the game almost like watching it. Way cool!
Thanks again, Dorell”

We’re here for you Dorell! Enjoy that mountain air.


Cubs 6-3 Indians, top of the 7th

Fowler with another base hit to lead off the seventh! And Miller is still out there! That is un-bleeping-real! Where is Bryan Shaw??

You would think but I’m a neutral and totally stressed out!

Cubs 6-3 Indians, bottom of the 6th

Lester falls behind Davis, but is able to coax a routine ground ball to second out of the outfielder. Chicago are nine outs away from a World Series title!

Cubs 6-3 Indians, bottom of the 6th

Tremendous stretch by Rizzo helps Russell nail Ramirez after a bouncer to short - two down! And Guyer comes up, pinch hitting for Chisenhall, and delivers!

It’s a two-out base hit, bringing up Davis looking fore a big knock here. Will Guyer run? He really should...

Cubs 6-3 Indians, bottom of the 6th

Lester strikes out Napoli and lord help Cleveland if he finds a rhythm. Now it’s Jose Ramirez batting with one out and nobody on.

Yeah, not a bad encore at all.

Cubs 6-3 Indians, top of the 6th

Heyward grounds out, Baez strikes out and another eventful inning is in the books.

How will it end?

HOME RUN! Cubs 6-3 Indians, top of the 6th

The retiring Ross, at the center of the action a half-inning ago hits a long drive to center - Davis is back, AT THE WALL AND IT’S GONE!

Chicago get a run back as Grandpa goes deep! And if Maddon isn’t totally out of his mind, he’s not even in the game!

Has Miller finally burned out before our eyes? And why is he still pitching?

Updated

Cubs 5-3 Indians, top of the 6th

Well, my heart is racing and I can’t stop it. What to do? Breathe, breathe.

Miller is back and has the first out -Russell pops up in foul ground, Napoli has it, one away.

The umpire changed that inning, no question.

Cubs 5-3 Indians, bottom of the 5th

What started with a two-out walk and a questionable pitching change and a two-run rally, ends with a strikeout by Francisco Lindor, but we have a game again thanks to a half-inning I can only describe as bananas.

RUNS! Cubs 5-3 Indians, bottom of the 5th

Lester’s pitch is in the dirt, gets away from Ross and the ball bangs off the back stop - Santana scores and HERE COMES KIPNIS - HE’S SAFE! It’s a two-run wild pitch by Lester, and Cleveland are right back in it!

Ross, who was hit on the chin and shaken up, grimaces, while Maddon swallows hard! Out of nowhere it’s a two-run ballgame. Wow!

Cubs 5-1 Indians, bottom of the 5th

Kipnis, a little knubber, nearly half way to third base - Ross pounces on it because there’s no way Lester will even touch it, has to hurry and the ball gets away at first as Rizzo and Kipnis collide! Santana heads to third, Kipnis moves over to second and Cleveland have two on and two out for Lindor!

Wild play!

Cubs 5-1 Indians, bottom of the 5th

So here’s Lester, big left handed hurler, on to face the Indians lefty Jason Kipnis in a key at-bat. He’s ahead 1-2...

Cubs 5-1 Indians, bottom of the 5th

With one out, Perez is caught looking: Santana should’ve been as well, but home plate umpire Sam Holbrook was watching a different pitch.

So Santana is on with a two out walk and here comes Maddon and he’s bringing his hook!

Jon Lester is coming in to this ballgame, mid-inning, because there is no one else on the roster who can hold a four run lead other than a starter who can’t hold runners doesn’t pitch in relief, apparently.

This better work...

Not unless he can hit...

Cubs 5-1 Indians, bottom of the 5th

Maddon brings out Hendricks for another inning, which makes a heck of a lot of sense because he’s settled down.

And Hendricks has the first out of the fifth after Crisp bounces out to first.

Cubs 5-1 Indians, top of the 5th

It’s a bad time for Miller to turn human, isn’t it?

Now Zobrist hits a deep DEEP fly ball, but Davis is able to track it down at the wall and the side is retired, but not before the Cubs put even more runs on the board!

RUN! Cubs 5-1 Indians, top of the 5th

The Indians feel the heat
The Indians feel the heat. Photograph: Ken Blaze/USA Today Sports

Rizzo rakes a hit to right - Bryant is busting it, rounding second, third - HERE COMES BRYANT - and he’s SAFE! Tremendous base running!

And a huge, tack on run for the Cubs who are able capitalize on a two-out walk!

Updated

Cubs 4-1 Indians, top of the 5th

Bryant makes Miller work and is rewarded - the Tribe reliever issues a two out walk.

Meanwhile, FOX TV here in the US has David Ross on a hot mic in the dugout, which provides us this exchange.

Rizzo: ...I’m an emotional wreck right now

Ross: It’s only going to get worse...wait for the ninth with a three run lead.

And here’s Rizzo.

Tough crowd - three straight games on short rest and dominating for two of them. Here’s his line tonight:

4IP 6H 4R 4ER 0BB 2HR

Cubs 4-1 Indians, top of the 5th

The call stands and now Kris Bryant comes up with two down and the bases empty - he’s 1-2 and scored a run.

Also, it looks like Jon Lester will come in this game shortly.

Cubs 4-1 Indians, top of the 5th

Not so fast - Schwarber goes down on the 6-4-3 double play...or does he.

Will they take a look at this? Yes they will. He looks out to me.

Cubs 4-1 Indians, top of the 5th

And Fowler rips a base hit to left! Oh boy...is the party on? Too soon?

Probably not so hot.

Just consider this for a moment - the Chicago Cubs are 15 outs from winning the World Series...true story.

Meanwhile, here comes Andrew Miller to try and settle this down.

HOME RUN! Cubs 4-1 Indians, top of the 5th

Javier Baez makes up for his two errors by blasting a home run to right center field! Hugs all around in the dugout, and that chases Kluber - who should not have never EVER come out in the fifth. Right?

Cubs 3-1 Indians, bottom of the 4th

Now that we’ve toured the world, back to baseball, and an easy inning for Hendricks: Ramirez grounds, Chisenhall pops out, and so does Davis. To the 5th!

Expensive ticket...

Meanwhile, the world watches the Series

I know that feeling! hang in there!

Is this the World Cup Final?

Justin Kavanagh thinks he’s going back to the future:

“Hold on a second! A minute-by-minute with J. Baez, Santana, and Hendricks (sic.)? I think I’m having a 60s acid flashback!!!”

And Christopher Metta Bexar is in trouble:

“I might top everyone; was outed by my professor for following MBM in my--wait for it--theology grad class. Yes, there are prayers for Cubs delivery from the goat curse! Trust me...(and yes, I’m still following along!)“

Cubs 3-1 Indians, top of the 4th

Kluber was great, and then he unraveled quickly, way too fast for Cleveland’s bullpen to get up.

Ed Clark wanted him out:

“Kluber is on short rest x2. That’s why they should take him out.”

At any rate, this inning is over after Heyward pops out to short, but it’s a big inning for Chicago as they score twice.

RUN! Cubs 3-1 Indians, top of the 4th

Contreras, fly ball to center, Davis is running, turns his back and runs some more - that ball is down AND OFF THE WALL! HEre comes Zobrist and the Cubs take a two run lead!

So much for my wanting to keep Kluber in - Andrew Miller warms in the Cleveland bullpen.

RUN! Cubs 2-1 Indians, top of the 4th

Shallow fly ball - Davis has it, Bryant tags, there’s a play a the plate - SAFE! Cubs take the lead!

It was extremely close - Davis seemed to hesitate just a touch and that may have made the difference.

By the way, Zobrist is heads up, tagging up on the play, so he’s at second with one out.

Contreras is next with that big runner ion scoring position.

Updated

Cubs 1-1 Indians, top of the 4th

Kluber is watching Bryant at first and is ahead 0-2 to Rizzo before he’s hit!

That means Rizzo walks to first - two on and no outs for Zobrist.

He bounces into a force play - Napoli to Lindor - out! The throw was high, but it seems that umpire John Hirschbeck got it right, and so that out will stick.

Runners at the corners with one out for Russell.

Cubs 1-1 Indians, top of the 4th

Lots of talk on FOX TV in the US about Kluber coming out soon. But why? He’s had just one blip, is pitching reasonably well, and is at just 40 pitches. Francona should ride that as long as he can.

Meanwhile, Lester is warming in the pen, and I buy that a lot more - Cleveland are on to Hendricks.

Now Bryant hits a ground ball through the hole and Chicago have a leadoff runner on with Rizzo coming up.

Unusual hours all around - Hayden Cole is trying to look busy in his office while following along in New Zealand, while Christopher Burnham is slacking in Perth, not to mention Ben Coreless, chugging along as the sun rises in Mauritius.

Then there’s Luke Zagorski in the UK

“So excited, I may die.”

Updated

Cubs 1-1 Indians, bottom of the third

Napoli rakes a laser beam, but it’s right at Kris Bryant: Hendricks is out of trouble, but not before Cleveland tie this game!

Cubs 1-1 Indians, bottom of the third

Lindor can’t make Hendricks pay for being down in the count and he pops to left field for the second out of the inning . That’s a huge play in this game, and leaves it for the slumping Mike Napoli.

Did I mention there’s bullpen action for the Cubs? Montgomery is up, even with all those starters available.

CALL OVERTURNED!

Javier Baez loses sight of the ball.
Javier Baez loses sight of the ball. Photograph: Tommy Gilligan/USA Today Sports

So that’s an error on Javier Baez, his second of the evening, and that means the Indians have runners on first and second with the hear of the order coming up with one man down.

Cleveland must take their chances - and this is certainly one of them. Here’s Lindor, and it’s already 2-0...

Cubs pitching coach Chris Bosio comes out mid-count - that’s how vital this inning is.

Updated

CHALLENGE!

Kipnis, an all-star, a big left-hand batter, hits a bouncer to the left side - Russell has it at short, tosses to Baez who has it, then drops it! The umpire calls out, but they’ll look at this.

Did Baez drop it in the transfer, meaning Santana would be out, or did he just plain drop it? I think it’s the latter.

RUN! Cubs 1-1 Indians, bottom of the third

Santana, a line drive over the extended arm of Anthony Rizzo - that ball is in right field - here comes Crisp and we are tied in Game 7!

Cubs 1-0 Indians, bottom of the third

Yes, it seems the Indians can hit Hendricks - Crisp has a lead off double.

Now bunt fans the world stand up and cheer as Roberto Perez drops a sacrifice that does the job to a tee. With runs at a premium, Crisp is at third with one out and a sac fly will tie this ballgame.

Unusual decision, especially with Bryant and Rizzo coming up...

Cubs 1-0 Indians, top of the third

Baez pops to left, easy for Coco Crisp, then Dexter Fowler lines to right, and Lonnie Chisenhall makes the play.

Now Schwarber has a base hit to the right field corner - he makes the turn and is heading to second - Chisenhall’s throw is RIGHT ON TARGET - one hop and Schwarber is out!

Tremendous play all around, and Cleveland have something to cheer about as they run back to the dugout.

Cubs Starters

FOX TV here in the US shows us pictures of Cubs starters heading out to the bullpen. Among them is Jon Lester, who can’t throw to first, a problem talked about ad nauseam, even though it really hasn’t had much to do with anything lately.

Have you seen this?

I hadn’t, until now...

Make sure you check the date - that’s 2014 ladies and gentleman, and that is completely bananas.

Cubs 1-0 Indians, bottom of the second

Disaster or the Tribe - Davis bounces 5 to 4 to 3 - that’s two outs, one time! A huge double play, and a tough one at that, with the speedy Davis chugging up the first base line. That inning looked like it could have been a whole lot more, but Cleveland come up empty!

The good news? At the very least they know they can touvch Hendricks.

Cubs 1-0 Indians, bottom of the second

RAMIREZ IS PICKED OFF! Hendricks catches him leaning and that really costs Cleveland because Chisenhall follows with a base hit to left field! So instead of two on nobody out, it’s one on and one out.

Cubs 1-0 Indians, bottom of the second

Jose Ramirez, who homered in Game 5 hits a rocket up the middle and off Hendricks - Russell tries to make the pick bare handed and can’t come up with it - lead off runner on for the Indians! Here’s Chisenhall up to try and make hay.

Email

Ben Corless writes:

“4am start in Mauritius for the World Series. First at bat homer a good way to wake up! #gocubs”

That’s hardcore!

Cubs 1-0 Indians, top of the second

Nerves of Indians fans settle as Kluber retires his fourth straight Cubs batter- Russell pops up to short for the first out. Now here’s the Willson Contreras.

The catcher pops to right for the second out and now it’s up to Jason Heyward, who is all glove and no stick. He hits a soft fly ball that can’t find the outfield grass: his broken-bat pop up is easily handled by Lindor, inning over


Maybe, I can at least confirm this isn’t Iowa.

Updated

Cubs 1-0 Indians, bottom of the first

Napoli breaks his bat as the ball bounces to Addison Russell at shortstop - he sidearms the throw to Baez over at second base for the force play and the Indians are retired in the second.

Cubs 1-0 Indians, bottom of the first

Lindor reaches after Javier Baez, throwing from his knees, slips and misfires - that’s an E4 on the second baseman, and a two-out runner for Cleveland and Mike Napoli. Can the Indians capitalize on the extra out?

Cubs 1-0 Indians, bottom of the first

Santana is first-pitch swinging and scorches a line drive, but right into the glove of Jason Heyward who holds on for the first out of the inning.

Then Jason Kipnis, easily the hottest Indians hitter, is then lulled by a Hendricks change up. Here comes Francisco Lindor with two down.

Our man at Progressive Field

Reaction to Fowler’s home run has Les walking back his initial estimation of Cubs fans:

“I stand corrected on the number of Cubs fans in the park. There are a lot of them here, maybe as many as 40 percent. It seemed like a shoe stadium of arms flew into the air when Fowler’s home run cleared the center field fence. The roar was pretty loud.”

Cubs 1-0 Indians, top of the first

Zobrist gets under a Kluber slider and skies out to right field end the inning. It’s a rough start for the home team, but they’re only down a run - it could have easily been worse.

Cubs 1-0 Indians, top of the first

Someone wake up the Indians - Schwarber takes off and is half way to second base before Kluber even lifts his leg. What in tarnation is happening out there?

Cubs 1-0 Indians, top of the first

Kris Bryant socks one all the way to the right field wall but Lonnie Chisenhall is there to make the catch and Tribe fans exhale...and breathe a little easier after Anthony Rizzo is retired on a pop to center field. Two down now for Ben Zobrist.

Not mine!

Cubs 1-0 Indians, top of the first

Schwarber hits a little roller towards the hole between second and first - Lindor, playing in the shift, has it but the throw is not in time! The Cubs have a home run and a base hit before the first out is recorded and there is panic on the streets of Cleveland, early!

HOME RUN! Cubs 1-0 Indians, top of the first

Dexter Fowler hits a deep drive to center field, Rajai Davis at the wall, leaping and he can’t get it - that ball is UP AND OVER THE WALL! The Cubs have the first ever leadoff home run in the history of World Series Game 7 baseball! Chicago strike first!

Dexter Fowler sends the ball into the crowd
Dexter Fowler sends the ball into the crowd. Photograph: Tommy Gilligan/USA Today Sports

Updated

First pitch!

Dexter Fowler takes a strike on the outer half of the plate from Corey Kluber and Game 7 is finally underway!

From the Yan Gomes contingent:

and then this...

I suspect not, but you never know.

Email

I believe that Charlie Sheen is in the house, so we already know that blue star loves Anacott Steel...and Germany likes the Cubs, or at least Stephen Parrish does:

“Hi David! I’m an Illinois boy following your updates from faraway Germany. I’ve waited fifty years for this day. Go Cubbies!

Predictions

Well, I predicted the Indians back in July, and then again in October. Why stop now?

I like the Tribe to take it 6-4, with the Cubs scoring mostly in garbage time. I also love Davis starting in center field

How about you Hunter?

Our man at Progressive Field

Here’s Les:

It’s interesting, after a day of talking about how Cubs fans were going to snatch up tens of thousands of tickets and turn Progressive Field into another Wrigleyville, the stands have now filled and the crowed is decisively Cleveland – as it should be given this is Game 7 in the Indians home park. There are probably more Cubs fans here than last night but red still dominates over the blue and the roars for Cleveland players are louder than those for Chicago’s.

National Anthem

The string section of the Cleveland orchestra are playing the national anthem, and the fans, invited to sing along, are doing just that. They’re putting together a simple and elegant version that, at least for me, is pitch perfect. I give it full points, 10/10, and I’m not sure I’ve ever awarded that score before. A tremendous start to the festivities!

Ratings

You may have heard by now that ratings wise, this World Series has been a monster. Actually, the Mets Giants NL Wildcard game was the most watched in the history of that early-round affair, so to some degree, this has been building. In an era of declining ratings across the board, and during a time where the NFL has ruled the TV ratings universe, and even during a period where the US election has dominated, Major League Baseball is ruling the roost, and that has got to be music to the ears of commissioner Rob Manfred.

Here’s a post from our friends at the AP about ratings:

The Chicago Cubs’ 9-3 win over Cleveland was the most-watched World Series Game 6 since 1997.

Tuesday night’s game had a 13.3 rating and 23 share on Fox, drawing 23.4 million viewers. It was the highest-rated Game 6 since the New York Yankees’ 2009 clincher against Philadelphia drew a 13.4/22 and the most-watched since Cleveland’s win at Florida in 1997 was seen by 23.7 million.

The game drew 425,000 for Spanish-language coverage on Fox Deportes and 151,000 for digital coverage on Fox Sports Go, for a total audience of 24 million.

This year’s Series entered Game 7 averaging an 11.3/20 and 20 million viewers, the most watched since Boston’s four-game sweep of St. Louis in 2004.

The rating is the percentage of television households tuned to a program, and the share is the percentage showing a broadcast among those homes with TVs on at the time.

Email

Here’s a little numerology from reader Mark Wagner. He writes:

“71 years since cubs pennant. 71 degrees at 7:10 game time. 108 years since title. Every baseball has 108 stitches. This means either, the tides has reversed or. . . many more years of misery?”

Our man at Progressive Field

Les Carpenter has filed this report as we get set for Game 7:

Final games of a series are always fun because managers are released to use any pitcher they see fit to win the ultimate game. Remember Clayton Kershaw in Game 5 of the NLDS coming out of the bullpen to get the last two outs of the clinching game for the Dodgers? It feels like about four months ago. Both managers tonight have that same dilemma but in different ways.

Cleveland’s Terry Francona has a reasonably-rested ace reliever Andrew Miller to use tonight if he needs. Francona gave no indication about how long he will pitch Miller – if at all – but he talked about how he has brought Miller into games in the fifth inning in the past and left open the idea that he would again in this game.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon talked to Game 5 starter Jon Lester after last night’s game and suggested that Lester could pitch at least an inning or two if the Cubs needed him.

“Jon’s able,” Maddon said. “I don’t want to put him into a dirty inning, I don’t think that would be appropriate. But being that it’s on his regular workout day, he’s probably got a solid two in him.”

Maddon also said he did not regret using his closer Aroldis Chapman for long stretches in the last two games, potentially weakening Chapman’s effectiveness.

“It’s about winning now,” Maddon said. “Yesterday that was a real clear-cut decision for me, how to work (the 7th inning when Chapman came in) the threat there was that had we not done it then Aroldis would have had a mores stressful 1- 1 2/3 innings in the eighth and ninth.”

END - David here again...

It’s interesting about Lester - and remember, his entering the game also means a switch at catcher, a move that means less in the American League. David Ross has caught all but three of Lester’s innings this season.

Updated

Tito Francona

He is one of the more successful big game managers in recent history, and tonight, he’ll have the luxury of a reasonably rested big-game bullpen. The airwaves were buzzing all day long about a possible formula for Francona - four innings from starter Corey Kluber, three from Andrew Miller and two from Allen. That’s a best case scenario of course, and is likely if the Indians manage to get on top of Cubs starter Kyle Hendricks.

Just a quick note about his benching of Tyler Naquin - in an era of cagey coaches and managers, it was refreshing to hear his candid comments, where he said that he was “pressing a little bit. During the regular season you might kind of let him get through it, but with one game left and with [Corey] Kluber pitching, we’re trying to put a premium on catching the ball.”

But that’s just Tito, a tremendous managerial talent, who also is also cool enough let the world in on how he fell asleep eating pretzels and peanut butter last night, waking up now and then to take another bite.

A big night ahead...

David Lengel here...

If a certain iconic baseball broadcaster were writing this live blog, perhaps he would start off with “Hello everybody and a very pleasant evening to you wherever you may be.”

And actually, it’s much more than a pleasant evening, or morning or afternoon for baseball fans, and that’s because we’re about an hour away from what is unquestionably the most highly anticipated finish to a season in recent memory.

Personally speaking, I’ve been jumping out of my skin all day long waiting for first pitch, waiting to watch what happens right along with what will be a mammoth global baseball audience.

It’s perhaps less pleasant for fans of the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians: their supporters have been tortured for decades, and are agonizing about what may or may not happen right up until the very end of one of their age-old title droughts. They’ve spent the day playing out the game in their heads, wondering what these nine or more innings will ultimately yield. They’ve been speaking with friends and family, trying their best to keep calm over the past 24 hours. And they’ve been thinking about all of those no longer here, who watched their team try and fail to win a lone World Series title, year after year after year.

A Game 7 in the World Series brings along a wide range of emotions for fans of this sport, and of course, it brings closure. Tomorrow, the season will be over and one fan base will wake up in a world that they could have only dreamed of a day earlier.

The question is, will it be in Chicago or Cleveland?

And that reminds me, why not send in your predictions for what we hope will be nothing short of an epic finale. Tweet your thoughts over to @lengeldavid or david.lengel.freelance@theguardian.com - it would be great to have you all involved. So gear up, get your popcorn ready. First pitch is coming up shortly.

Updated

1) Memorable Game 7s: 1960

Tonight marks the 38th Game 7 in World Series history. They haven’t all been classics, but many of these winner-take-all affairs have served as platforms for baseball’s most unforgettable moments. As we count down the hours before tonight’s first pitch, we’re looking back at the 10 most memorable Game 7s in the annals of the Fall Classic.

1) 1960 World Series | Pittsburgh Pirates 10, New York Yankees 9

It was a bizarre World Series that saw the losing Yankees finish with more than twice as many runs on aggregate (55) than the winning Pirates (27), but you could hardly script a more exciting finale. The Pirates trailed 7-4 in the bottom of the eighth but responded with five runs, only to see the Yankees plate a pair to tie it at 9-9. Enter Bill Mazeroski, who won the game, and the championship, with the only walk-off home run ever in Game 7 of a World Series.

2) Memorable Game 7s: 1991

Tonight marks the 38th Game 7 in World Series history. They haven’t all been classics, but many of these winner-take-all affairs have served as platforms for baseball’s most unforgettable moments. As we count down the hours before tonight’s first pitch, we’re looking back at the 10 most memorable Game 7s in the annals of the Fall Classic.

2) 1991 World Series | Minnesota Twins 1, Atlanta Braves 0 (10 innings)

The so-called Worst to First Series featured two teams that had finished in last place only a year earlier, a happening unprecedented in baseball history. What came next was one of the hardest fought and most highly charged Fall Classics ever played, with five games decided by one run, four coming down to the final at-bat and three going to extra innings. Game 7 ticked all those boxes as Jack Morris of the Twins and John Smoltz of the Braves engaged in a pitchers’ duel for the ages. Only after Morris threw an incredible 10 shutout innings did pinch hitter Gene Larkin close the show with a walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th.

This year, by the way, marks the first time the World Series and NBA Finals have gone to Game 7 in the same year since 1962.

3) Memorable Game 7s: 2001

Tonight marks the 38th Game 7 in World Series history. They haven’t all been classics, but many of these winner-take-all affairs have served as platforms for baseball’s most unforgettable moments. As we count down the hours before tonight’s first pitch, we’re looking back at the 10 most memorable Game 7s in the annals of the Fall Classic.

3) 2001 World Series | Arizona Diamondbacks 3, New York Yankees 2

A classic pitchers’ duel between starters Curt Schilling and Roger Clemens (the AL Cy Young winner) was given even more juice when Randy Johnson (the NL Cy Young winner) entered in relief. Once Alfonso Soriano homered in the eighth to give New York a 2-1 lead, the outcome seemed but a handshake away. After all, the Yankees had Mariano Rivera waiting in the wings. But a two-inning save proved a bridge too far for the presumptive greatest closer ever as Rivera, who had struck out the side in the eighth, couldn’t work out of trouble in the ninth as Luis Gonzalez delivered the coup de grâce with an RBI blooper to center.

4) Memorable Game 7s: 1924

Tonight marks the 38th Game 7 in World Series history. They haven’t all been classics, but many of these winner-take-all affairs have served as platforms for baseball’s most unforgettable moments. As we count down the hours before tonight’s first pitch, we’re looking back at the 10 most memorable Game 7s in the annals of the Fall Classic.

4) 1924 World Series | Washington Senators 4, New York Giants 3 (12 innings)

Walter Johnson had already established himself as perhaps the greatest pitcher in baseball history – a statement that stands today, incidentally – but not until he was in the twilight of his career did the Big Train have the opportunity to pitch in the World Series. The 36-year-old right-hander lost both starts in Game 1 and Game 5, but was given a shot at redemption in Game 7 at Griffith Stadium after the Senators rallied from 3-1 down to tie the score in the bottom of the eighth. Johnson entered in the ninth and pitched four scoreless innings, earning the victory in relief after Earl McNeely’s championship-clinching RBI double in the bottom of the 12th.

Confirmation of those starting line-ups:

Cleveland Indians

  1. Carlos Santana DH
  2. Jason Kipnis 2B
  3. Francisco Lindor SS
  4. Mike Napoli 1B
  5. Jose Ramirez 3B
  6. Lonnie Chisenhall RF
  7. Rajai Davis CF
  8. Coco Crisp LF
  9. Roberto Perez C

Starting pitcher: Corey Kluber

Chicago Cubs

  1. Dexter Fowler CF
  2. Kyle Schwarber DH
  3. Kris Bryant 3B
  4. Anthony Rizzo 1B
  5. Ben Zobrist LF
  6. Addison Russell SS
  7. Willson Contreras C
  8. Jason Heyward RF
  9. Javier Baez 2B

Starting pitcher: Kyle Hendricks

Charlie Sheen starred in Major League, in which he played a Cleveland Indians pitcher. Then Charlie Sheen did various things for a few years and got very rich. And then he did some Bad Things. But people mostly thought the Bad Things were entertaining or made them feel better as they hadn’t done those Bad Things. And then the Indians reached the World Series and he wanted to throw out the first pitch because he had been in Major League. But the Indians said no because they were going to let an actual real player do it. But then they felt bad and let him come to the game tonight. Hooray!

Updated

5) Memorable Game 7s: 1997

Tonight marks the 38th Game 7 in World Series history. They haven’t all been classics, but many of these winner-take-all affairs have served as platforms for baseball’s most unforgettable moments. As we count down the hours before tonight’s first pitch, we’re looking back at the 10 most memorable Game 7s in the annals of the Fall Classic.

5) 1997 World Series | Florida Marlins 3, Cleveland Indians 2 (11 innings)

Here’s one that Indians fans of a certain age will no doubt be grappling with tonight. The last time Cleveland played in the World Series, they led 2-1 entering the bottom of the ninth of Game 7. But José Mesa allowed singles by Moisés Alou and Charles Johnson followed by a sacrifice fly by Craig Counsell that knotted the score at 2-2 and bought the Marlins new life in extra innings. With Cleveland’s Game 3 starter Charles Nagy having entered in relief, the Marlins loaded the bases in the bottom of the 11th – thanks in part to a crucial error by second baseman Tony Fernandez on what might have been an inning-ending double play – setting the stage for Édgar Rentería’s walkoff single to center.

Updated

6) Memorable Game 7s: 1912

Tonight marks the 38th Game 7 in World Series history. They haven’t all been classics, but many of these winner-take-all affairs have served as platforms for baseball’s most unforgettable moments. As we count down the hours before tonight’s first pitch, we’re looking back at the 10 most memorable Game 7s in the annals of the Fall Classic.

6) 1912 World Series | Boston Red Sox 3, New York Giants 2 (10 innings)

Technically speaking, this was Game 8 – Game 2 at Fenway Park had been called for darkness – but the teams were deadlocked at three wins apiece with the world championship on the table. They complete nine innings still knotted at 1-1 before the Giants broke through in the top of the 10th on Fred Merkle’s RBI single off Smokey Joe Wood. But the Red Sox – no doubt aided by an easy fly ball by center fielder Fred Snodgrass that allowed leadoff batter Clyde Engle to reach second – scratched out two runs against Hall of Fame hurler Christy Matthewson, who had pitched brilliantly to that point.

The last surviving player from the 1945 World Series – the Cubs’ most recent appearance in the Fall Classic – has been talking about his memories. He actually played for the team that beat the Cubs, the Detroit Tigers. But he says he’s pulling for Chicago tonight. Ed Mierkowicz is 92 now, and was a 21-year-old rookie when the game took place. What does he remember? Mainly being nervous: “If I took my pants off, my knees would be shaking,” he told AP. “I just went along with the flow.”

“It was exciting,” he added. “In fact, it was so exciting, I don’t know what the hell was going on — all the people going crazy.”

He also won a car in a raffle later that day. Not a bad day’s work all things considered.

And we have the scorecard from the last time the Cubs won the World Series. It would have set you back 10c or $2.67 in today’s money, according to the first website I could find that specializes in that kind of thing. If they’d known how long it would be until the next Cubs win, they could have got at least 11c for it.

1908 World Series scorecard
1908 World Series scorecard. Photograph: Iconic Archive/Getty Images

Indians manager Terry Francona slept like a baby last night, apart from the bit where he dreamt someone had broken his ribs. And the bit where he finally woke up and found his glasses were smothered in peanut butter.

“I had a nightmare that somebody broke my ribs,” he said before tonight’s games. Until he realized he had fallen asleep with the TV remote wedged under him. “I had peanut butter on my glasses,” he added. “It was a bad night, man.”

Francona did not clarify how the peanut butter left the jar and stuck itself to his glasses.

7) Memorable Game 7s: 2014

Tonight marks the 38th Game 7 in World Series history. They haven’t all been classics, but many of these winner-take-all affairs have served as platforms for baseball’s most unforgettable moments. As we count down the hours before tonight’s first pitch, we’re looking back at the 10 most memorable Game 7s in the annals of the Fall Classic.

7) 2014 World Series | San Francisco Giants 3, Kansas City Royals 2

The Giants had won Game 1 on a standout performance by Madison Bumgarner, then Game 5 when the right-hander pitched the first complete-game shutout in more than a decade in World Series play. But when the Royals forced a seventh game with a 10-0 victory in Game 6, the Giants ace went above and beyond the call of duty on two days’ rest. After Michael Morse’s broken-bat RBI single broke a 2-2 deadlock in the fourth, Bumgarner entered to protect the one-run lead. He’d go on to hold the Royals scoreless over the final five innings – retiring 14 batters in succession during one stretch – for the longest save in World Series history.

It’s just been announced that members of the string section of the Cleveland Orchestra will perform the Star-Spangled Banner before tonight’s game. Which is ... fine.

While the national anthem at the World Series isn’t necessarily the over-the-top production that you typically see at the Super Bowl, there have been more than a few memorable renditions over the years. Three of our favorites:

Marvin Gaye at Game 4 in 1968

Marvin Gaye performs the national anthem at Game 4 of the 1968 World Series.

The Jackson 5 at Game 1 in 1970

The Jackson 5 perform the national anthem at Game 1 of the 1970 World Series.

Paul Simon at Game 6 in 1986

Paul Simon performs the national anthem at Game 6 of the 1986 World Series.

LeBron James has given his two cents worth on tonight’s game with a tweet to his hometown Indians. Although it kind of translates to “as long as you try, I’m proud of you”. And as any of Napoleon’s soldiers from the ill-fated Russian campaign of 1812 will tell you - if they hadn’t frozen to death 200 years ago – it’s the taking part that counts.

8) Memorable Game 7s: 1955

Tonight marks the 38th Game 7 in World Series history. They haven’t all been classics, but many of these winner-take-all affairs have served as platforms for baseball’s most unforgettable moments. As we count down the hours before tonight’s first pitch, we’re looking back at the 10 most memorable Game 7s in the annals of the Fall Classic.

8) 1955 World Series | Brooklyn Dodgers 2, New York Yankees 0

Next year finally came for the hard-luck Dodgers, who saw off the Yankees in the World Series after coming up short against their crosstown rivals in 1947, 1949, 1952 and 1953. The Dodgers scratched out runs on an RBI single and sacrifice fly by Gil Hodges, but it would prove enough Johnny Podres scattered eight hits over nine shutout innings to capture the first championship in franchise history and their lone win in Brooklyn. The game is perhaps best remembered for defensive substitute Sandy Amorós’ game-saving catch in left field off the bat of Yogi Berra, which keyed a 7-6-3 double play that short-circuited the Yankees’ biggest threat of the day.

Updated

9) Memorable Game 7s: 1975

Tonight marks the 38th Game 7 in World Series history. They haven’t all been classics, but many of these winner-take-all affairs have served as platforms for baseball’s most unforgettable moments. As we count down the hours before tonight’s first pitch, we’re looking back at the 10 most memorable Game 7s in the annals of the Fall Classic.

9) 1975 World Series | Cincinnati Reds 4, Boston Red Sox 3

Everyone remembers Game 6 – the instant classic settled by Carlton Fisk’s 12th-inning walk-off home run that Robin Williams’ Dr Sean Maguire skipped out on to go see about a girl – but that only forced a seventh game the next day. The Red Sox struck first with three runs in the third and the end of the team’s 57-year championship drought seemed within reach. But Tony Perez’s two-run homer off the Green Monster closed it to 3-2 in the sixth, Pete Rose tied it with an RBI single in the seventh and Joe Morgan’s two-out base hit to center field in the ninth capped Boston’s misery – and gave birth to the Big Red Machine.

Updated

Indians center fielder Taylor Naquin is out of the starting line-up for tonight’s game – but manager Terry Francona said it wasn’t a punishment for his error in Game 6.

Naquin let a fly ball drop between him and right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall in the first inning on Tuesday, a mistake that paved the way to Chicago’s 9-3 win over Cleveland. In the fourth inning, with Cleveland down 7-2, Naquin came up with the bases loaded, but struck out.

Francona said he feels Naquin is “pressing a little bit. During the regular season you might kind of let him get through it, but with one game left and with [Corey] Kluber pitching, we’re trying to put a premium on catching the ball.”

Rajai Davis will start in center. With the prospect of facing lefties Aroldis Chapman and Jon Lester later on, Francona wanted the right-handed hitting Davis in the lineup.

“You can tell he’s pressing,” Francona said of Naquin, who is batting .143 in the series. “It’s not punishment. It’s trying to win.”

Terry Francona: Naquin is “pressing a little”.
Terry Francona: Naquin is “pressing a little”. Photograph: Gene J. Puskar/AP

Updated

Looks nice in Cleveland at the moment:

Four hours before the start of the biggest World Series game in the recent history of the Cubs and Indians, and downtown Cleveland is strangely dead. Sidewalks that were packed at this time before Tuesday’s Game 6 are mostly empty. The East 4th St alley of bars that serve as a pre-game drinking spot for the baseball stadium and basketball arena just a couple blocks away was far from filled. At this point on Tuesday, those same bars were packed. The few fans that did gather were all wearing Cubs shirts and caps.

In fact, the vast majority of fans in downtown Cleveland this afternoon appear to be from Chicago. This was anticipated by locals, who figured that if the Cubs won Game 6 they would pour into town to celebrate what could be their first championship in 108 years. What is missing … is Cleveland fans.

Chicago fan dressed appropriately.
Chicago fan dressed appropriately. Photograph: Charlie Riedel/AP

It’s an odd sight: downtown Cleveland devoid of Cleveland fans. There is no lack of enthusiasm for the Indians in the city’s neighborhoods away from downtown. Shop windows are filled with Indians pictures and Indians pennants. Everybody, it seems, is wearing an Indians shirt. But for some reason that has not translated to the area around Progressive Field.

Certainly there has been much anecdotal evidence of enthusiastic drinking in anticipation of the team’s first title since 1948. Maybe fans are nursing hangovers. Or maybe they anticipate the doom known well to Cleveland fans, who have only this summer’s Cavaliers title to celebrate among their sports teams since the Browns won the NFL championship in 1964.

Even the 3.09 pm Green line train in from the east suburbs that was packed with baseball fans on Tuesday had just a handful of passengers today.

Weird.

Updated

10) Memorable Game 7s: 1962

Tonight marks the 38th Game 7 in World Series history. They haven’t all been classics, but many of these winner-take-all affairs have served as platforms for baseball’s most unforgettable moments. As we count down the hours before tonight’s first pitch, we’re looking back at the 10 most memorable Game 7s in the annals of the Fall Classic.

10) 1962 World Series | New York Yankees 1, San Francisco Giants 0

The Giants trailed 1-0 in the bottom of the ninth at Candlestick Park and were down to their final out, but they had runners at second and third with future Hall of Fame slugger Willie McCovey at the plate. That’s when McCovey ripped a line drive that surely would have driven in the championship-winning runs … if not for Yankee second baseman Bobby Richardson, whose hair-trigger catch for the final out preserved Ralph Terry’s four-hit shutout.

Updated

If you’re watching tonight’s Game 7 to take your mind off the election, be sure to switch off during the commercials: Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump have bought last-minute ads to air during the game.

The Trump campaign has booked three commercial spots, a campaign spokesman has confirmed to CNN. And Hillary Clinton’s campaign has booked four spots, according to a source at Fox.

The market price for an ad during Game 7 exceeds $500,000, but the campaigns will be paying less, because broadcasters are legally required to give candidates the “lowest unit rate” for ad time in the weeks before an election.

During Game 6 on Tuesday night, the Clinton campaign had two national ads. Trump didn’t have any, but the NRA did have one.

Fox, which is broadcasting the game nationally, expects Game 7 to be the network’s most-watched MLB game in 15 years, with an audience of about 30 million viewers.

Tonight's starting line-ups

Tyler Naquin has paid for his costly mistake in Game 6 – and he’s out of the Indians line-up for tonight’s winner-takes-all showdown. Naquin, who let a fly ball turn into a two-run double in the first inning of Tuesday night’s loss, is out, and Rajai Davis is back in.

Naquin and Chisenhall get into a mix-up.
Naquin and Chisenhall get into a mix-up. Photograph: David Richard/USA Today Sports

Carlos Santana will lead off for the Indians, followed by Jason Kipnis, Francisco Lindor, Mike Napoli and Jose Ramirez. Lonnie Chisenhall will hit sixth, with Davis seventh, Coco Crisp eighth and Roberto Perez catching and hitting ninth.

The Cubs, by contrast, are sticking with what works: they’ll use the same line-up that crushed the Indians 9-3 on Tuesday.

Dexter Fowler will lead off, followed by Kyle Schwarber, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo. Ben Zobrist, who is hitting .391 in the series, will hit fifth. Addison Russell, who tied a World Series record with six RBIs in Game 6, will hit sixth, followed by Willson Contreras, Jason Heyward and Javier Baez.

The Cubs have managed just one run off Kluber in his two starts so far.

Updated

Just going back to the weather: the rain in Cleveland is expected hold off for the majority of the evening, but by 11pm there’s more than an even chance of showers. So if the game goes longer than three hours, we’re into risky territory.

As we mentioned before, MLB have brought the start time forward – but only by eight minutes. We’ll begin at 8pm ET. Cross your fingers it stays fine.

If Chicago do win tonight and capture their first championship since 1908, they’ll have done it the hard way: only six teams in history have come back from a 3-1 deficit to win the World Series.

The comeback kids:

1985 Kansas City (AL) 4, St Louis (NL) 3

1979 Pittsburgh (NL) 4, Baltimore (AL) 3

1968 Detroit (AL) 4, St Louis (NL) 3

1958 New York (AL) 4, Milwaukee (NL) 3

1925 Pittsburgh (NL) 4, Washington (AL) 3

1903 Boston (AL) 5, Pittsburgh (NL) 3

Jim Thome to throw first pitch

Jim Thome, the Indians’ franchise leader in home runs, will throw the first pitch at Progressive Field tonight. Former players from each team have thrown the first pitch prior to each game in the series.

Thome, one of three players with a statue out beyond center field, played for the Indians between 1991 and 2002, and again in 2011. He was there the last time the Indians advanced to the World Series, in 1997 – only to fall short against the Marlins in Game 7. Thome never again reached the World Series.

“It’s what you live for,” said Thome, who grew up a Cubs fan in Peoria, Illinois. “It’s what you dream of. As an ex-player, you feel it with them. You want this to happen so badly.”

Weather report

We’ve experienced some chilly World Series in years past – not least the 1997 Marlins-Indians series, where in a memorable Game 4, snow fell throughout the game and temperatures hovered around the 38F mark – but tonight’s decider should be unseasonably warm. A chance of rain remains, however.

We’re expecting temperatures in the upper 60s or lower 70s; the chance of rain increases from 19% at 8pm to about 50% by 11pm.

Brian Wimer, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather, said in a statement: “While a brief shower cannot be ruled out during Wednesday evening, if Game 7 runs late or goes into extra innings, then the chance of drenching rain will increase.”

Major League Baseball announced late on Tuesday night that it was moving up the start time by 8 minutes to 8pm.

Bill Murray news: As the Cubs are playing, we’re legally obliged to do a fun story about Bill Murray (and, in fairness, all stories about Bill Murray are fun. With the exception of Larger Than Life). Anyway, it turns out he decided to give his spare ticket to a random fan, Karen Michel, at last night’s game. “He turns around and says, ‘Here, here’s a ticket,’” Michel told MLB. “And he kind of shuttled me into the door. I thought it was just a ticket to get in. But it was a ticket to sit right here [next to Murray].”

Updated

There is no tomorrow when it’s Game 7 of the World Series. That means traditional adherence to the rules governing rest for starting pitchers and bullpen management are tossed out the window in favor of an all-hands-on-deck approach.

Case in point: Tom Verducci reports that Jake Arrieta, the winning pitcher in Game 2 and last night’s Game 6, told Cubs pitching coach Chris Bosio that he would be available to pitch in relief in tonight’s Game 7 if necessary. They have him down for 20 pitches.

That would be some turnaround for Arrieta, last year’s Cy Young Award winner who scattered three hits and two runs over 5.2 innings (and threw 102 pitches) before Mike Montgomery, Aroldis Chapman, Pedro Strop and Travis Wood finished the job.

On a beautiful Game 7 Wednesday, Cleveland emerged from the wreckage of Tuesday’s Game 6 debacle determined to believe that maybe, just maybe, their Indians can finally win that world championship that has eluded them for 68 years. People walked to their neighborhood groceries and banks wearing Indians T-shirts and caps, joking that the improbable 75F weather is “Indian summer”. Needless to say, most of them are not talking about the election. Only one topic seems to be on most people’s minds. As heard from a group of lunching ladies at a sidewalk table in the Little Italy section of town:

“My friend said: ‘I don’t think my liver can take anymore alcohol after that game last night.’”

“If they win tonight, they’re going to have to have a holiday the next day because everyone is going to be up all night.”

Yup, they’ve gone baseball mad around here.

Updated

Tonight's starters

Kluber and Hendricks are widely expected to finish high in the balloting for this year’s Cy Young Awards. That means tonight will likely mark only the third pitching matchup in a Game 7 of the World Series between starters to finish in the top five of Cy Young voting.

The others? The Diamondbacks’ Curt Schilling against the Yankees’ Roger Clemens in 2001 and the Royals’ Bret Saberhagen against the Cardinals’ John Tudor in 1985.

Both pitchers spoke with the media before last night’s Game 6. Here are some excerpts:

Corey Kluber

Corey Kluber starts for Cleveland tonight.
Corey Kluber starts for Cleveland tonight. Photograph: Jerry Lai/USA Today Sports

Given this has been your first postseason experience, how valuable do you think this month has been for you just in terms of overall development even moving forward?

Kluber: I think first and foremost it’s been a blast. I think that we’ve all really enjoyed ourselves. I think we can take a lot from the way we approached it, and not treating it more than just each game is another game and trying to go out and win that day. Not trying to look too far ahead or things like that. I think there’s value to taking that approach throughout the course of a season, too.

For years and years, the regular routine was to have starters pitch on three days’ rest, and then in seven days it became four days. For you, what is the difference now that you’ve come back once on three days and might do it again tomorrow?

Kluber: I mean, I guess for me personally I spend a little more time doing the different methods of recovery and stuff like that that we have available to us.

But I still get in the same amount of work in between, it’s just a little bit more condensed. I haven’t, for me personally, I haven’t found much of a difference yet in the way I feel when I go out there on three days’ rest as opposed to four. And I don’t know if that’s just doing the extra recovery stuff to where you get as close to normal as you can possibly get. But that’s really the only difference for me is spending more time trying to recover on those three days instead of having four days to do it.

All season long you knew when you were going to pitch, and tomorrow obviously you don’t know if you’re going to pitch. So what is your mental frame thinking about tomorrow as of right now?

Kluber: I mean, doing all my work in between the last start, and if it gets to tomorrow, that start. In doing all my work it was the same trying to get myself prepared. I’ll be rooting as hard as anybody for us to win tonight. But I think that my mindset was I’d rather be prepared and not have to pitch than try to will us to not get to a Game 7 and then not be ready when it comes.

Kyle Hendricks

Kyle Hendricks is on the mound for Chicago.
Kyle Hendricks is on the mound for Chicago. Photograph: Tannen Maury/EPA

Kyle, knock on wood, there’s a Game 7 for you tomorrow, what would it mean? It’s the ultimate in baseball to pitch a Game 7.

Hendricks: Exactly, this is the ultimate dream. You dream of getting to the World Series, winning the World Series. When you’re out in your backyard as a kid, playing Little League at the field with your friends, this is the moment you dream about, Game 7, 3-2, two outs, something like that, bottom of the 9th. But it’s always Game 7 of the World Series.

So when we get there tomorrow, I’m just going to embrace the opportunity like I have the rest of this postseason, honestly. Approach it like any other game, simple thoughts, the same old thing.

You have a guy on your team who won a Game 7 in 2002 and won a Game 6 three years ago in John Lackey. Has he imparted any wisdom on you about how to handle tomorrow?

Hendricks: Not particularly in regards to tomorrow, but I’ve learned so much from John already. I think the way he approaches every single game, you know, I think that’s what prepares him for those big games and that’s what I’ve learned watching him, and I’ve tried to implement some of that into my routine, just taking that same ruthless approach, every day, every single start, even the regular season. So that when you get to these big moments, it’s basically like it has been the whole year, I think.

What’s your take on a team having a guy starting games 1, 4, and 7 and Kluber in particular?

Hendricks: You know, I don’t think there’s too many guys that could do it to start, so obviously he’s a special guy. But Kluber, you can just see it. The way he takes to the mound, he’s always locked in. He has a very, very good mental approach from what you can see from the outside, keeping things simple, just trying to execute pitches.

Like I said, there’s not many guys in this league that could do that. I think it speaks volumes to him as a pitcher and what he can do.

Updated

Hello and welcome

Game seven. It’s been said they’re the two greatest words in sports – besides, perhaps, free beer or brunch burger – a one-off crucible where the winners through the years have been minted as legends and the losers cruelly fitted with goat horns.

Tonight the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians will face off in the seventh game of a World Series that’s deadlocked at three games apiece. The ultramarathon that is the Major League Baseball season – more than 200 games when you include spring training, the 162-game regular season and the play-offs – is reduced to a sprint.

All signs indicate tonight’s finale could be a classic, none more than the delicious starting pitching matchup between Indians’ Corey Kluber and the Cubs’ Kyle Hendricks, both Cy Young Award contenders for their respective leagues.

We’ll unpack that and much more with first pitch a little more than six hours away.

Anthony Rizzo goes deep in the ninth in Game 6.
Anthony Rizzo goes deep in the ninth in Game 6. Photograph: David Richard/USA Today Sports

Updated

Bryan will be here shortly, in the meantime here’s Les Carpenter on what will be a historic night:

Late Tuesday had turned to early Wednesday, and if the Cleveland Indians’ collapse hadn’t been indignity enough, their manager Terry Francona had become a prisoner in his own stadium.

He left a postgame interview in a room beneath the stands, and tried to walk back to the team’s clubhouse – only to run into a mob of fans leaving Cleveland’s 9-3 Game 6 World Series loss to the Chicago Cubs. The crowd was filtered through two barriers set up in the corridor, forcing Francona and a team public relations man to stop as the fans pushed through. The opening between the barriers was controlled by a vigilant security guard, who appeared unconcerned that the home team’s manger was standing at the other end trying to get past.

Or maybe the guard did know, and she was just going to make Francona squirm, the way all of Cleveland is squirming the end of a World Series they could have won days ago.

“Wait!” the guard shouted, as a woman pushed by with a baby stroller followed by five people in Indians T-shirts.

“Can I get through now?” Francona asked politely, but with exasperation building in his voice.

“No! Wait,” the guard said, waving more fans past.

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