Happy Halloween
And there will be a Game 6 of The World Series. The Cubs held off the Indians on Sunday night and won the last game of the year at Wrigley Field. Joe Maddon’s offense did just enough after struggling in games three and four. Kris Bryant sparked the Cubs’ three-run fourth inning. And Aroldis Chapman shut out the Indians over the last 2 2/3 innings after Jon Lester allowed two runs over the first six innings.
The Cubs are flying to Cleveland on Monday night for Tuesday’s Game 6. Being on the road should help the young players relax. And in typical Joe Maddon fashion, he encouraged his players to wear Halloween costumes on the plane.
Jake Arrieta gets the ball in Game 6 on Tuesday night as the Cubs look for their second, one-game winning streak.
The Cubs will play baseball in November for the first time.
World Series News and Notes
Here are the post-game reports, news and notes from Game 5 …
• CCO – Cubs Hold Off the Indians, Take Game 5 of The Series (includes video)
• The Tribune reported Jon Lester willing to pass baton to bullpen in Cubs’ Game 5 win. Jon Lester was all-in on being pulled after six innings in Game 5 according to Comcast SportsNet.
• According to Comcast SportsNet, once again Joe Maddon’s Cubs respond to the win-or-else pressure. Scott Miller reported blood, sweat and tears and Cubs win Game 5 to send World Series back to Cleveland.
• Bruce Levine reported Aroldis Chapman and Jon Lester stepped up when needed most for Cubs.
• Kris Bryant shows up just in time for the Cubs according to ESPN.
• Kris Bryant became the first Cubs’ third baseman to hit a home run in a World Series game when he took Trevor Bauer deep leading off the fourth inning of Game 5. And Bryant is the first Cubs’ player to hit a home run and steal a base in a single World Series game.
• Kris Bryant has the most RBI (12) in Cubs’ postseason history. And Bryant is tied with Dexter Fowler (11) for the most extra basehits in Cubs’ postseason history … Anthony Rizzo (9) is second followed by Frank Schulte (7), Ryne Sandberg (7), Aramis Ramirez (7) and Jorge Soler (7).
• Kris Bryant is tied for second on the Cubs All-Time Postseason Home Run list … Kyle Schwarber (5), Bryant (4), Dexter Fowler (4), Anthony Rizzo (4), Aramis Ramirez (4), Alex Gonzalez (4)
• Ben Zobrist’s fourth inning single on the 3-0 pitch from Trevor Bauer was his first hit all season on a 3-0 pitch. According to Jayson Stark that was the first time he swung at on a 3-0 count since April 20.
• The Sun-Times reported Kris Bryant goes long, Aroldis Chapman goes longer in Game 5 win. Aroldis Chapman nurses seventh inning lead all the way to shores of Lake Erie according to the Sun-Times.
• Comcast SportsNet reported Anthony Rizzo channeled Rocky Balboa to keep Cubs loose before Game 5 World Series victory.
• Jon Heyman thinks it would be better for Major League Baseball if the Cubs lose The Series. Heyman had to admit that Joe Maddon took his turn making mark on The World Series.
• Jose Ramirez’s second inning home run in Game 5 was his first homer on the road since May 23.
• A lot is being made of the Cubs’ struggles with runners in scoring position … The Indians were 1-for-10 with RISP in Game 5 and are 7-for-36 with RISP in The Series according to Paul Hoynes.
• Jon Lester is the third pitcher in Cubs history to record a win in a World Series game at Wrigley Field.
David Ross
David Ross started Game 5 and contributed at the plate in what was his last game at Wrigley Field. The Cubs improved to 5-1 in games started by Ross this postseason, 4-5 in the other nine games. There are rumblings that Ross could start Game 6 with Jake Arrieta on the hill.
Ross went 0-for-1 with a sacrifice fly RBI in two plate appearances. Ross’ sac fly plated Ben Zobrist with the third run and ended up being the difference in which the Cubs won the game.
David Ross threw out Francisco Lindor trying to steal second to end the sixth inning. In what may have been his last play in the majors, Ross delivered a great throw (79.4 mph) to Javier Baez with a pop time of 1.92 seconds and an exchange of 0.66 seconds.
Comcast SportsNet reported the storybook year for ‘Grandpa Rossy’ is coming to an end with emotional final game at Wrigley.
Eddie Vedder dedicated ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame’ to David Ross before the rock star sung along with Harry Caray in the 7th inning stretch.
Aroldis Chapman
Aroldis Chapman stepped up Sunday night and delivered when the Cubs needed a long, shutout outing from him. Chapman joined Madison Bumgarner as the second pitcher in World Series history to earn a save of at least eight outs in a game that his team faced elimination.
Maddon made the surprising move and went to Chapman with one out in the seventh inning. Chapman made 42 pitches, 26 for strikes, in 2 2/3 innings. Chapman allowed one hit and hit a batter while striking out four. And Chapman made his third career plate appearance, first since 2015.
Game 5 was the longest appearance of Aroldis Chapman’s career.
Joe Maddon went to Chapman before the game and talked to him about being ready as early as the seventh inning. To Chapman’s credit, after struggling when entering games in the eighth inning following the trade, he delivered from the seventh inning on in the Cubs’ biggest game to date.
News and Notes
• Jason Heyward had the first multi-steal game for a Cubs player in a World Series since Billy Jurges in Game 3 of the 1932 Series, the Babe Ruth called shot game.
• The Cubs had a rather impressive guest list at Wrigley Field for Game 5 … Click Here.
• Game 5 posted a 42.8 Chicago market rating with a peak audience of 1.65 million homes according to Jeff Nuich.
• Game 4 of The Series had 16.7 million viewers, up 23 percent from a year ago. According to Eric Fisher, best Game 4 since 2009 and the best viewership for a Saturday World Series game since 2004.
One last time at Wrigley in 2016 …
#GoCubsGo pic.twitter.com/CYyoiqMbYb— MLB (@MLB) October 31, 2016
This Day in Cubstory
2014 – Cubs announced the hiring of Joe Maddon to be the 54th manager in franchise history. Maddon signed a five-year, $25 million contract.
2014 – Cubs fired manager Rick Renteria
2014 – Cubs granted free agency to Kyuji Fujikawa
2013 – Cubs granted free agency to Scott Baker, Matt Guerrier, Dioner Navarro and Kevin Gregg
2012 – Cubs granted free agency to Joe Mather
2008 – Cubs granted free agency to Henry Blanco, Kerry Wood and Jon Lieber
2007 – Cubs granted free agency to Cliff Floyd and Steve Trachsel
2006 – Cubs granted free agency to Henry Blanco, Wade Miller, Aramis Ramirez, Jose Reyes and John Mabry
2005 – Cubs granted free agency to Neifi Perez
2003 – Cubs granted free agency to Eric Karros
2003 – Cubs released Josh Paul
2000 – Cubs granted free agency to Shane Andrews, Jeff Reed and Jeff Huson
1995 – Ryne Sandberg announced he would be returning to the Cubs in 1996. Sandberg inked a one-year contract to come out of retirement.
1995 – Cubs granted free agency to Shawon Dunston and Mark Parent
1984 – Anthony Varvaro, born
1982 – Alex Hinshaw, born
1977 – Cubs acquired Bill Caudill and Woodie Fryman from the Reds for Bill Bonham
1970 – Steve Trachsel, born
