A close game with the Cubs on the brink of postseason elimination proved to be a ratings blockbuster for Major League Baseball Sunday night.
Game 5 of the World Series averaged 15.3 percent of homes in major markets on Fox, a number that surprised most ratings experts and easily defeated "Sunday Night Football" on NBC, which averaged an 11.6 overnight rating.
The fact the football game was close, too, and featured the perennially ratings-friendly Cowboys against the Eagles, made the baseball figure even more impressive.
According to Sports Media Watch, the 15.3 overnight rating was the best for any non-Game 7 World Series game since Game 6 of the Yankees-Phillies series in 2009 (15.4) and best for a Game 5 since the Yankees-Marlins series in 2003 (15.4).
With no NFL competition on Tuesday night, Game 6 figures to be a massive ratings hit for MLB.
