04/11/2016
Arab Times
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The Chicago Cubs celebrate after defeating the Cleveland Indians 8-7 in Game Seven of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field on Nov 2, in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cubs win their first World Series in 108 years. (AFP)CLEVELAND, Nov 3, (RTRS): The Chicago Cubs shed themselves of the “Curse of the Billy Goat” and ended a 108-year wait for a World Series title by beating the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday in a thrilling Game Seven classic.
By beating the host Indians 8-7 in 10 innings, Chicago’s beloved Cubbies set off a wild celebration in the streets of the Windy City after over a century of pent up frustration for fans since their last Major League Baseball championship in 1908.
Cubs players held their own euphoric party at Progressive Field cheered on by a boisterous contingent of their fans after earlier squandering a 6-3 lead with four outs left in the game only to bounce back for the precious victory.
“This is one of the best games anybody will ever see,” said Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant, who fielded Michael Martinez’s grounder and fired it to first for the final out. “This trumps everything. I’m out here crying. I can’t really put into words what this means.”
Leftfielder Ben Zobrist, put the Cubs ahead in the 10th with an RBI double and who batted .357 in the series with two doubles and a triple.
The win in the early hours of Thursday morning capped a Chicago comeback from a 3-1 deficit in the best-of-seven, a feat last achieved by the Kansas City Royals in 1985.
It was the third World Series crown for the Cubs, while the disconsolate Indians replaced them as the team with the longest current World Series title drought, 68 years and counting.
“I don’t know but it happened,” said first baseman Anthony Rizzo. “Chicago, it happened. We did it, we’re world champions.”
The Cubs, whose quiet bats woke up in Tuesday’s 9-3 Game Six win, picked up where they left off with three home runs in front of an audience surprisingly crowded with their raucous blue-clad fans who paid handsomely to buy tickets on the resale market.
With chants of “Let’s Go Cubbies” ringing through Progressive Field, Chicago charged to a 5-1 lead and carried a 6-3 advantage into the eighth when Cubs manager Joe Maddon summoned closer Aroldis Chapman with two outs and a man on.
But the Cuban fireballer, who pitched 2-2/3 innings on Sunday and another inning and a third on Tuesday, gave up a run-scoring double to Brandon Guyer and a two-run homer to Rajai Davis that tied the game and ignited an explosion of cheers from the Cleveland faithful.
Rain began falling in the ninth and play was halted before the start of the 10th to cover the field before extra innings resumed 17 minutes later.
With Bryan Shaw on the mound and two on base with one out, Zobrist reached out and slapped a shot past diving third baseman Jose Ramirez to snap the tie and Miguel Montero singled home another run to make it 8-6.
Carl Edwards started the 10th for Chicago but the irrepressible Indians staged another rally, drawing within one run on an RBI-single from Davis.
In came lefthander Mike Montgomery, who induced Martinez to ground out and launch the celebration with thousands of Cubs supporters staying on to sing the “Go Cubs Go” team song after the four hour 28 minute battle.
The downcast Indians could only watch from the dugout steps.
“That was an incredible game, I mean, to be a part of it,” said Cleveland manager Terry Francona. “It’s going to hurt. It hurts because we care, but they need to walk with their head held high because they left nothing on the field.”
Cubs leftfielder Ben Zobrist was named most valuable player of the World Series on Wednesday after delivering the go-ahead run in the 10th inning of Chicago’s deciding 8-7 victory over the Cleveland Indians.
With the Indians having come back in the eighth inning to tie Game Seven at 6-6, Zobrist stepped to the plate and doubled down the leftfield line to score Albert Almora and put Chicago back in front 7-6.
Miguel Montero followed with what would be the game-winning RBI, snapping Chicago’s 108-year championship drought.
Zobrist was 10-for-28 for a .357 batting average during the World Series with two doubles and a triple.
“It was just an epic battle,” Zobrist said about the thrilling Game Seven finale. “We’ve been listening to Rocky’s soundtrack the last three games. We’ve got our own Italian Stallion, Anthony Rizzo, that’s been putting that on.
“It was like a heavyweight fight, man. Just blow for blow, everybody played their heart out. The Indians never gave up either, and I can’t believe we’re finally standing, after 108 years, finally able to hoist the trophy.”
It was the second consecutive year Zobrist has celebrated a World Series triumph, having helped the Kansas City Royals to the Major League Baseball championship last season.
“Man, this one about made me pass out,” Zobrist said after the four hour 28 minute showdown. “The elation of getting up early in the game and the feeling like we have the game in our grasp, and then it getting away in the bottom of the eighth.
“And having a little rain delay and coming back and scoring those two in the ninth.”
Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Zobrist was a fitting winner of the MVP award.
“Who sets a better example of how to work an at-bat? And who sets a better example of just being a professional than he does?” said Maddon.
“Here’s a guy that’s in his mid 30s, and his work ethic is incredible to watch. What he does after games, not before games, to be ready for the next day.
“He’s just a different cat. Everybody would like to have one of those on their team.”
