This is the 32nd deciding game in World Series history which seems remarkable only if you don’t think the 2 best teams always advance (and they don’t, another way of looking at the same statistics is that flukes and mismatches are the norm, representing almost 70% of all cases).
Baseball fans tend to be numbers fans also because there are just so many of them. They pretend it’s an indicator of rationality and predictability but these very same people will then turn their Caps inside out if their team is behind; refuse to bathe, shave, or wash their clothes; or believe in goat curses.
Honey, I hate to say it, but what you smell is you. Get a shower and brush your teeth why not. The reason they call it ‘Magical’ thinking is that there is no cause and effect that connects your ‘Good Luck Socks’ to what happens between the foul lines.
In this game however, the past is the future as each team has made some critical compromises to arrive at this point. Sure, Corey Kluber is a future Hall of Famer but is the 6th time the charm or is 30+ Innings (12 in this Series) more than enough? The Indians have a Bullpen too.
On the Cubs side Hendricks is a lot fresher, but has a lot of No Decisions and as many Losses as Wins. Sure his ERA is 0.00, but it’s based on 4 Innings and doesn’t include 6 scattered Hits. I don’t think he looks all that overpowering though the numbers say different. Chapman is the next Rivera, you heard it here first, but can he come back after last night’s work?
Well the answer is yes. He came in in the 7th but left in the 9th and he didn’t throw an unusually high number of pitches. Just another day at the Ball Park for him regardless of what the announcers say. The rest of the Bullpen ain’t much, but they have a bunch of lightly used starters who’ll be playing golf tomorrow win or lose.
So, we shall see. I won’t tell you I’m rooting for the club with the 108 year drought because of Bill Murray but it’s true enough and we shall see.
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Top of the 4th inning Corey Kluber pitching for Cleveland
Kris Bryant lead of single
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Single. A good start
Rizzo hit by pitch. 2 on No outs
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HBP
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Fielder’s Choice. Corners
Zobrist singles, Rizzo out at 2nd. Bryant to 3rd
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RBI Sacrifice. Cubs 2 – 1
Russell sac fly to center. Bryant scores. Zobrist to 2nd
Cubs 2 – Cleveland 1 2 outs
That’s a slide!
Contreras doubles on a fly to center. Zobrist scores
Cubs 3 – Cleveland 1 with 2 outs
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RBI Double. Cubs 3 -1
Heyward pops out to infield to retire the side
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Bottom 4th
Bottom of the 4th. Kyle Hendricks pitching fo rthe Cubs
Ramirez grounds out
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Out at 1st
Chisenhall flies out to left
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Fly. 2
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Top 5th
Rajai Davis flies into right to end the 4th
Cubs 3 – Cleveland 1
Top of the 5th. Corey Kluber pitching for Cleveland
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Leadoff Solo Shot. Cubs 4 – 1
Baez lead off solo Home Run
Cubs 4 – Cleveland 1
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Ladies and Gentlemen… Kluber has left the building.
Cleveland pitching change: Andrew Miller in for Kluber
Fowler singles on a ground ball to left
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And a Single. No Out
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Double Play
Scwarber grounds into a double play. 2 outs
Bryant walked with 2 outs
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2 Out Walk
Rizzo RBI double
Cubs 5 – Cleveland 1 with 2 outs
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RBI Double. Cubs 5 – 1
Zobrist flies out far left center to retire the side
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Bottom 5th
Bottom of the 5th. Kyle Hendricks pitching for the Cubs
Crisp grounds out
Perez struck out. 2 outs
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Ground Out 1
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KO. 2
Santana walked
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2 Out Walk.
Cubs pitching change Jon Lester in for Hendricks
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Error. 2nd and 3rd
Kipnis grounds into a double. Santana tp 3rd with 2 outs
Wild pitch. 2 RBI’s
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Wild Pitch. 2 Runs Score. Cubs 5 – 3
Cubs 5 – Cleveland 3
Lindor struck out to end the 5th innng
Cubs 5 _ Cleveland 3
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