Sports

Chicago Cubs complete historic comeback, win World Series in Game 7

Thursday, November 3, 2016
Emotional fan breaks down after historic World Series comeback win by the Chicago Cubs.
CLEVELAND, OH -- The Chicago Cubs won their first World Series championship since 1908 when Ben Zobrist hit a go-ahead double in the 10th inning, beating the Cleveland Indians 8-7 in a thrilling Game 7 delayed by rain early Thursday.

Lovable losers for generations, the Cubs nearly let this one get away, too. All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman blew a three-run lead with two outs in the eighth when Rajai Davis hit a tying homer.
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Cleveland Indians fan Caleb Cork reacts during a watch party for Game 7 of the baseball World Series. (AP Photo/David Dermer)AP
A fan reacts during the fifth inning of Game 7 of the Major League Baseball World Series between the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago Cubs. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)AP
Chicago Cubs pitcher Jon Lester throws during the fifth inning of Game 7 of the Major League Baseball World Series. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)AP
Cleveland Indians' Jason Kipnis scores past Chicago Cubs' Jon Lester during the fifth inning of Game 7. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)AP
Cleveland Indians' Jason Kipnis and Carlos Santana celebrate after scoring during the fifth inning of Game 7. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)AP
Cleveland Indians' Jason Kipnis and Carlos Santana celebrate after scoring during the fifth inning of Game 7. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)AP
Cleveland Indians' Jason Kipnis, left, celebrates after scoring with Carlos Santana against the Chicago Cubs during the fifth inning of Game 7. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)AP
Cleveland Indians' Jason Kipnis, right, scores past Chicago Cubs pitcher Jon Lester during the fifth inning of Game 7. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)AP
Cleveland Indians' Jason Kipnis scores past Chicago Cubs' Jon Lester during the fifth inning of Game 7 of the Major League Baseball World Series. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)AP
Chicago Cubs' David Ross hits a home run during the sixth inning of Game 7 of the Major League Baseball World Series. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)AP
Cleveland Indians' Rajai Davis can't catch a home run hit by Chicago Cubs' David Ross during the sixth inning of Game 7. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)AP
Chicago Cubs' David Ross celebrates his home run during the sixth inning of Game 7 of the Major League Baseball World Series. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)AP
Chicago Cubs' David Ross rounds the bases after a home run against the Cleveland Indians during the sixth inning of Game 7. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)AP
The Cleveland Indians bench watches during the sixth inning of Game 7 of the Major League Baseball World Series. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)AP
Chicago Cubs' David Ross watches his home run against the Cleveland Indians during the sixth inning of Game 7 of the Major League Baseball World Series. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)AP
Chicago Cubs' David Ross celebrates in the dugout after a home run against the Cleveland Indians during the sixth inning of Game 7. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)AP
Chicago Cubs' Dexter Fowler celebrates after a home run against the Cleveland Indians during the first inning of Game 7. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)AP
Cleveland Indians left fielder Rajai Davis can't get a glove on a home run by Chicago Cubs' Dexter Fowler during the first inning. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)AP
Chicago Cubs' Dexter Fowler celebrates after a home run against the Cleveland Indians during the first inning of Game 7. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)AP
Cleveland Indians' Mike Napoli breaks his bat as he flies out during the first inning of Game 7. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)AP
Chicago Cubs fan Jake Casper from Mount Prospect, Ill., photographs outside Wrigley Field in Chicago, shortly before the beginning of Game 7. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)AP
A fan watches during the second inning of Game 7 of the Major League Baseball World Series. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)AP
Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona requests an instant replay during the third inning of Game 7 of the Major League Baseball. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)AP
Cleveland Indians' Coco Crisp dives into second after a double against the Chicago Cubs during the third inning of Game 7. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)AP
Chicago Cubs' Javier Baez can't handle the ball as Cleveland Indians' Carlos Santana slides safely into second during the third inning of Game 7. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)AP
Chicago Cubs' Anthony Rizzo is hit by a pitch during the fourth inning of Game 7 of the Major League Baseball World Series. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)AP
Chicago Cubs' Kris Bryant is safe at home as Cleveland Indians catcher Roberto Perez puts on a late tag during the fourth inning of Game 7. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)AP
Chicago Cubs' Kris Bryant slides home and scores as Cleveland Indians catcher Roberto Perez looks to make the tag during the fourth inning of Game 7. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)AP
Chicago Cubs' Willson Contreras hits an RBI double during the fourth inning of Game 7. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)AP
Chicago Cubs' Kris Bryant is safe at home as Cleveland Indians catcher Roberto Perez puts on a late tag during the fourth inning of Game 7. (AP Photo/Tim Donnelly)AP
Chicago Cubs fan Carlos Ramirez reacts during a watch party for Game 7 of the baseball World Series between the Cleveland Indians and the Cubs. (AP Photo/David Dermer)AP
Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber leaves the game during the fifth inning of Game 7 of the Major League Baseball World Series. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)AP
Chicago Cubs' Javier Baez celebrates his home run with Kyle Schwarber during the fifth inning of Game 7 of the Major League Baseball World Series. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)AP
Cleveland Indians relief pitcher Andrew Miller throws during the fifth inning of Game 7 of the Major League Baseball World Series. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)AP
Chicago Cubs' Javier Baez celebrates his home run with Kyle Schwarber during the fifth inning of Game 7 of the Major League Baseball World Series. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)AP
Chicago Cubs' Kris Bryant scores past Cleveland Indians catcher Roberto Perez during the fifth inning of Game 7. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)AP
Chicago Cubs' Anthony Rizzo reacts after teammate Kris Bryant scored on Rizzo's hit during the fifth inning of Game 7. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)AP
Chicago Cubs' Willson Contreras celebrates after a RBI double against the Cleveland Indians during the fourth inning of Game 7. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)AP
A Cleveland Indians fan holds a sign during a watch party for Game 7 of the baseball World Series between the Indians and the Chicago Cubs. (AP Photo/David Dermer)AP
Chicago Cubs fans celebrate at the Cubby Bear bar across the street from Wrigley Field in Chicago after Javier Baez's fifth-inning home run. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)AP

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The umpires called for the tarp before the 10th began. Play started up again at 12:11 a.m., but more rain was in the forecast.
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Chicago, seeking its first title since 1908, and Cleveland, in search of its first since 1908, had to wait through the rain to see which team would end its drought.

The Cubs put a runner on third base with one out in the ninth. In a bizarre play, Javier Baez tried to bunt a full-count pitch from Bryan Shaw and fouled it off for strike three. Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor then ranged up the middle to grab Dexter Fowler's grounder to end the inning.



Fowler homered on Corey Kluber's fourth pitch of the game. The Cubs led 5-1 in the fifth and were ahead 6-3 in the eighth.

Chapman gave up an RBI double to Brandon Guyer and Davis followed with his home run that sent most of the crowd at Progressive Field into a frenzy. A sizeable contingent of Cubs fans was inside the ballpark, and they sat in stunned silence.

The 23-year-old Baez and 39-year-old David Ross also homered for the Cubs. Chicago was trying to become the first team to overcome a 3-1 Series deficit since the 1985 Kansas City Royals.
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