The Chicago Cubs have done it.
Next year has arrived!!!
The Cubs won the 2016 World Series in Game 7 with a hard fought 8-7, 10 inning victory over the Cleveland Indians.
It was a game for the ages.
They didn't make it easy. They didn't make it nice. But they did it.
Dexter Fowler led off the game with a solo HR to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead. The Tribe would tie it in the 3rd on a single by Carlos Santana.
The Cubs would take a 3-1 lead in the fourth on a sacrifice fly by Addison Russell and a double by Wilson Contreras.
The lead would go to 5-1 in the fifth on a home run by Javier Baez and a double by Anthony Rizzo.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon lifted starter Kyle Hendricks in favor of Jon Lester. His personal catcher David Ross would replace Contreras. A throwing error by Ross and a wild pitch scored two runs to make it a 5-3 lead.
Ross, who played his final big league game, would hit a solo home run in the sixth to bring the Cubs lead back to 6-3.
In the bottom of the eighth, Lester retired to the first two batters before giving up a single to Jose Ramirez which skipped off Cubs shortstop Addison Russell's glove.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon removed Lester in favor of Aroldis Chapman. Last night, despite a five run lead, Maddon saw fit to put Chapman into the game. The decision seemed to bite him in the ass. Brandon Guyer doubled and Rajai Davis tied the game with a two run home run.
The game seemed to take on Biblical proportions when a rain delay began the 10th inning. As it turned out, Jason Heyward, despite his struggles at the plate, called a team meeting in the weight room and rallied his team.
Ben Zobrist hit the go ahead double in the top of the 10th & Miguel Montero provided insurance with a bases loaded single to give the Cubs an 8-6 lead.
Cubs reliever Carl Edwards, Jr. managed to retire the first two hitters in the bottom of the 10th. But Guyer worked a walk. After taking second on defensive indifference, Davis drove him in with a single.
With a 108-year old drought, triumph doesn't come easy. Cubs lefty Mike Montgomery retired Michael Martinez on a ground ball to third baseman and franchise player Kris Bryant. After throwing the ball to Anthony Rizzo, pandemonium ensued.
Cubs win!!! Cubs win!!! Cubs win!!!
Ben Zobrist, who won a World Series ring a year ago with the Kansas City Royals and was part of Joe Maddon's crew with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008, was named World Series MVP.
Now the Cubs drought is over, the team with the greatest World Series drought is the Cleveland Indians. The Tribe had a 3-1 Series lead and couldn't put it away. The Cavaliers' NBA Title softens the blow, but the Indians now have the burden of waiting until next year. To put it into perspective, if the Indians suffered as much as the Cubs they won't win it all until 2056. But the 2016 Cleveland Indians exceeded all expectations and have nothing to be ashamed of including Chief Wahoo.
Having experienced first hand the Boston Red Sox triumph in 2004, I know how the folks on the North Side of Chicago feel right about now. If anything, coming back down 3-0 against the New York Yankees in the ALCS was the real triumph and the World Series was icing on the cake.
Whatever the feeling, Theo Epstein is at the center of both the Red Sox and Cubs breaking their curses. Reserve a plaque for him in Cooperstown right now.
For at least a little while we can escape the dredge that is this election and enjoy the Cubs' championship. It is a highlight in a year full of darkness.
And somewhere in Heaven, Ron Santo is clicking his heels and Ernie Banks is saying, "Let's play two."
And somewhere in a Chicago suburb, Steve Bartman has a smile on his face.
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