The Chicago Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo hits a two-run home run in the ninth inning of Game 6 of the World Series at Progressive Field in Cleveland. The Cubs beat the Indians, 9-3, to force a Game 7 on Wednesday. Chicago Tribune/TNS via Getty Images hide caption
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Chicago Tribune/TNS via Getty Images
The Chicago Cubs face the Cleveland Indians in the decisive Game 7 of the 2016 World Series Wednesday night at Cleveland’s Progressive Field. The teams are tied at three games each. A victory by either team will end one of the longest droughts in the history of Major League Baseball.
The Indians last won the World Series in 1948. The Cubs haven’t won a championship since 1908. As ESPN puts it, that’s a combined 176 years of baseball heartache.
The Indians are relying on ace starter Corey Kluber, the 2014 Cy Young Award winner and winning pitcher in Games 1 and 4. He will make his second straight start on three days of rest. If Kluber wins, he’ll be the first pitcher to start and win three World Series games since Detroit Tigers pitcher Mickey Lolich did it in 1968.
The Cubs will send Kyle Hendricks to the mound. He had the best earned run average in baseball this year.
The magic of the moment is not lost on any player on either team. Here’s how Hendricks summed it up for the AP:
“This is the ultimate dream,” he said. “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 ninth. But it’s always Game 7 of the World Series.”
Stay tuned for Game 7 updates.