http://bleacherbreaker.com/chicago-cubs-stopped-world-last-night-11-2016
The Chicago Cubs Stopped The World Last Night
The Chicago Cubs won the World Series last night in one of the most dramatic game sevens in sports history. Scratch that, The Chicago Cubs won the World Series last night in one of the greatest games ever played.
The journey back to the top of the mountain took 108 years and the forgiveness of goats everywhere.
— Goats (@EverythingGoats) November 3, 2016
Dexter Fowler started the night with a leadoff home run off Indians’ ace Corey Kluber. The world took note, stopped whatever silliness was happening, and turned on FOX to listen to Joe Buck and John Smoltz call history.
The game was dramatic and tense, everything a sports fan could ask for. At point, clinging to a three-run lead, the broadcast cut to a clip of Cubs young star Anthony Rizzo talking to his 39-year-old teammate David Ross in the dugout.
Just another example of why @MLB will miss @D_Ross3.
Congrats on a great career, #GrandpaRossy. pic.twitter.com/POwRq1vGk0
— MLB (@MLB) November 3, 2016
Ross was almost right. Cleveland came back in the 8th to tie the score after Aroldis Chapman gave up a two-run home run to journeyman outfielder Rajai Davis. The night before Chapman threw 60 pitches. He was visibly gassed as his pitches failed to reach their signature triple digits.
In the bottom of the 9th, Joe Maddon sent Chapman back out for God knows what reason. Instead of his usual fastball attack, the Cubs closer gave Indians hitters a steady dose of mid-80s sliders and got three outs.
Then it happened, a rain delay that fans thought was sent from God because neither of these teams could make history tonight. Their curses were too strong together.
Holy crap. Rain delay in extra innings of game seven of the World Series
— Don Banks (@DonBanks) November 3, 2016
Seventeen minutes later the rain stopped and play resumed, heavens be damnded. The Cubs, who called a brief team meeting to regroup during the delay, came out swinging. Kyle Schwarber got a single. With a pinch runner at first, Kris Bryant hit a ball to deep center that Rajai Davis caught in the warning track.
Schwarber’s pinch runner, Albert Almora Jr., tagged from first on the play to take second. Anthony Rizzo, a candidate for National League MVP, was walked to bring up Ben Zobrist. Then this happened.
The look on Anthony Rizzo’s face, his glass case of emotions ready to be shattered.
Chicago added on one more run before the Indians finally got their turn. Carl Edwards Jr. got two quick outs and everything looked good until he forgot where the strike zone was and walked Brandon Guyer.
Up came Rajai Davis, the hero of the Cuyahoga. Guyer took second on defensive indifference. David took a pitch back up the middle and drove in the run. The Cubs lead was cut to one and the meltdown looked imminent.
Cubs fans knew this story all too well. Before last night, Chicago had made a habit of taking leads late in the most critical moments and blowing them. I won’t name those moments, ask a Cubs fans and they will for me.
Ask the 44 million estimated viewers (as of this writing), and they will tell you that curses are made to be broken and hearts are made to be mended:
It finally happened. After 108 years the Cubs and the city of Chicago got their long awaited moment back in the sun. Glass case shattered.