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Chicago Cubs win game five of the World Series
go cubs go

Unsung hero Ross keeps Cubs alive with Game 5 win

Facing elimination, the Chicago’s finest came up big to force a game 6 against the Cleveland Indians.

“GO CUBS GO!” rang through Wrigley Field last night as the Chicago Cubs beat the Cleveland Indians 3-2 in game five to avoid elimination in the MLB World Series.

Aroldis Chapman recorded an eight-out save to assure at least one more outing for the Cubs as they try to force a seventh and deciding game, with the Indians leading 3-2.

Jon Lester started for Chicago, and he gave the team six strong innings in which he allowed just two runs. Lester, who was co-MVP of the National League (NL) Championship Series, is 1-1 during the World Series.

The Cubs’ unsung hero, catcher David Ross, occupied his familiar place behind the plate with Lester pitching. Ross drove in what proved to be the winning run in a three-run fourth inning that started with a Kris Bryant home run.

The support around Wrigleyville was phenomenal during the three-game home stand celebrating the Cubs’ first home World Series games since 1945. But up until game five, Cubs fans did not have much to cheer about after leaving the game.

Things looked bleak again Sunday after Jose Ramirez blasted a home run off Jon Lester in the second inning, however, the Cubs rallied with three runs in the fourth inning to live to see another day. There is still a long road ahead for North Chicago’s pride and joy, but at least Joe Maddon’s crew did not lose three straight at home to watch the World Series slip from their grasp.

Even taking into account the fact that Trevor Bauer has a gash on his finger which looks like all the Halloween makeup in the world could not replicate, the assessment of his starts has to be a bit harsh this postseason. After giving up three earned runs off of six hits in four innings on Sunday, Bauer has failed to pitch five innings in all four of his starts, and he has allowed two or more runs every time excluding the latter part of an inning he lasted when his pinkie wound busted open against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Cleveland are hurting for pitching depth. Bauer was supposed to be the team’s second-best option heading into the postseason with Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar injured, but the 25-year-old has not provided his best form.

It does not take a baseball expert to realize the Cubs are swinging at everything during this series. In game 5 against Corey Kluber, Chicago’s young line-up looked like spinning tops in the gravel. Willson Contreras painfully swung at every pitch while striking out three times. The Cubs were a bit better in game five, but they still lacked plate discipline which led to 14 runners left on base. Instead of embracing the small-ball mentality Cleveland have played with virtually all season, Chicago continue to try to mash the ball out of the park.

After two heart-breaking loses at home, the Cubs rallied to keep the series alive on Sunday. Jake Arrieta will take the mound in game six in Cleveland on Tuesday after tossing five innings of no-hit baseball in the second game. Neither team have closed out a World Series since the Indians won in 1948. This one could still get interesting.

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