Chicago Cubs: Remembering a World Series championship two years later

Chicago Cubs: Defending the Friendly Confines

As for Games 3 and 4, it didn’t go well. Back-to-back losses put the Cubs on the brink of elimination in front of the home faithful. Of course, memories of watching the New York Mets win the pennant at Wrigley Field 12 months prior were still fresh in the minds of us all.

Cleveland drove in a single run in Game 3, shutting out the Cubs while hammering them the next night by the final score of 7-2. Then suddenly, something clicked. Wheels began to turn and everyone on the Chicago roster began doing their jobs and doing them quite well.

In Game 5, southpaw Jon Lester, who earned co-NCLS MVP honors alongside Javier Baez, held the Indians off despite giving up a home run. Lester’s six-inning performance was enough to get the job done as the Cubs managed to keep their season alive behind a 3-2 home win.

That win forced the series back to Cleveland. With LeBron James and most of the Cavaliers watching from a luxury box, Chicago routed Game 6, winning 9-3. Shortstop Addison Russell launched a grand slam to make it 7-0 and was followed by a two-run Anthony Rizzo homer later on.

With a Cubs win, it all came down to a winner-take-all Game 7 at Progressive Field. 176 combined years of title-less baseball between two of baseball’s oldest franchises. In short, it had all the makings of a Hollywood blockbuster.

Chicago Cubs: Can you stand the rain?

Who expected Cubs leadoff man Dexter Fowler to hit a leadoff home run in Game 7 of the World Series? We might not have seen it coming, but we appreciated it all the same. Similar to Arrieta, Fowler blossomed with the team in a big way. In just two seasons, he quickly became one of the most beloved members of this franchise and is to this day.

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Setting the tone early, Chicago’s bats went to work while Kyle Hendricks was twirling what looked like the makings of a complete game. However, skipper Joe Maddon had other plans in mind, removing him after 4 2/3 frames – despite not being anywhere near the 100-pitch mark.

Lester came on in relief, immediately spiking a ball that allowed two runs to score. But the vet stopped the bleeding, preserving the lead in the process. But after Cleveland inched closer, they pounced all over closer Aroldis Chapman in a three-run eighth inning, capped by Rajai Davis‘ rocket into the seats down the left-field line.

Chapman was called upon early and often by Maddon. What followed, once again, fit the script of a Hollywood movie. A brief rain delay late in the game stole the show. Both teams retreated into the bowels of Progressive Field – and the Cubs rallied behind Jason Heyward‘s emotional speech.

Coming out swinging, Schwarber singled and was lifted for pinch-runner Albert Almora. The Chicago outfielder, with some veteran-like baserunning, later scored on Ben Zobrist‘s RBI double down the third base line, making it 7-6. Miguel Montero then drove in Zobrist with a knock of his own.

When the inning ended, Chicago had a two-run lead. The ‘Lovable Losers’ were now just three wins from a World Series championship.

Chicago Cubs: ‘The Cubs have done it!’

At this time, everyone in my household leaned forward in their seats, moved their hands over their mouths and began to hold their breath, myself included. Pitch after pitch, I could feel my heartbeat nearly breaking through my chest.

I personally can’t imagine how lanky, young right-hander Carl Edwards Jr. felt. Standing on the mound with a two-run lead in Game 7 of the World Series, three outs away from making history. He allowed a run to score on an RBI single and, just like that, it was a one-run ballgame.

Maddon went to the bullpen and and tapped his left arm, signaling for Mike Montgomery. Another learning he was being dealt from Seattle to Chicago mid-season, his former teammates had told him, “Now we’ll see you pitch in the World Series.”

And here he was.

With Davis at second, Montgomery got Michael Martinez to bounce a slow roller to a charging Kris Bryant. Ballgame. Drought over. World Series champions. Just like that, decades of losing, talks of goats, black cats and Steve Bartman meant nothing. The Cubs had done it.

Almost immediately, millions of fans crowded the streets of Chicago. Wrigleyville was a scene of utter jubilation and chaos. Watching from home, I could feel the energy through the television screen.

For years to come, that moment – when we watched Bryant throw across the diamond to Rizzo – will live on as the memory we all carry with us. And, as we continue forward with an eye on the future, Theo Epstein and his team haven’t forgotten what that was like. It’s what drives them each and every day.

And honestly, it’s not that far off. We’ll be there again, Cubs fans. Keep the faith and remember to never give up. Why? Because we never quit.