Story highlights
The Cubs have won their first World Series in 108 years
Miguel Montero's single with the bases loaded brought home Anthony Rizzo for what proved the decisive run
The billy goat curse is dead.
The Chicago Cubs are World Series champions at long last, winning their first Fall Classic in 108 years, defeating the Cleveland Indians in 10 innings 8-7 in Game 7 at Progressive Field in Cleveland.
The Indians were down 6-3 in the bottom of the eighth, but they got to closer Aroldis Chapman, tying things up with an RBI double from Brandon Guyer and a two-run home run from Rajai Davis.
Chapman lost the lead, Cleveland had the momentum, but then play was halted by rain before the start of the 10th inning. The delay lasted 17 minutes.
When play resumed, Chicago got to work.
Kyle Schwarber got it started with a single off Bryan Shaw. Albert Almora Jr., came in to pinch run and advanced to second on a fly out from Kris Bryant. Anthony Rizzo was intentionally walked, bringing up Ben Zobrist.
Zobrist, as he has throughout this World Series, delivered. His RBI double off Shaw drove in Almora Jr. After Addison Russell was intentionally walked, Miguel Montero’s single with the bases loaded brought home Rizzo.
The Cubs had eight different players record an RBI, the most of any team in a World Series Game 7.
“It could not have been a more entertaining, difficult series to win,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.
“I think beyond all that, I want to believe and I do believe this is good for our game moving forward, that we’re attempting to seize young fans and not just to play the game, but to be fans of the game. You cannot be more entertained than you were over these last seven games. It’s incredible. Of course, I’m not saying that just because we won, but because it’s true.”
Schwarber went 3-for-5 and finished the World Series 7-for-17 with a .412 average and two RBIs. Zobrist, who went 10-for-28 (a .357 average) with two doubles, a triple, two RBIs and five runs in the series, was named World Series MVP.
