Starting pitchers tonight were righthander Josh Tomlin (Cleveland) and righthander Jake Arrieta (Chicago), who both made their second start in this World Series.
The 32-year old Tomlin started Game 3 last Friday, which was won 1-0 by Cleveland.
The righthander had a no-decision, as he was relieved with two outs in the fifth inning.
Tomlin gave up only two hits in the 4 2/3 inning he pitched.
Tonight was his fourth start this postseason.
The 30-year old Arrieta was the starter in Game 2 on Wednesday.
The righthander was the winning pitcher in the game, which was won 5-1 by the Cubs.
In 5 2/3 inning, Arrieta gave up only two basehits and struckout six batters.
Arrieta also made his fourth postseason-start tonight.
...Dennis Martínez...
(© Marco Stoovelaar) |
Before tonight's game, the ceremonial first pitch was thrown by former Cleveland-pitcher Dennis Martínez.
With the Indians, 'El Presidente' played in the 1995 American League Championship Series.
Martínez, who is from Nicaragua, played in four Major League All Star Games.
In 1972, he participated with the National Team of Nicaragua in the Haarlem Baseball Week in Haarlem (Netherlands).
In a must-win game, the Cubs struck early tonight, scoring three runs in the top of the first inning.
Cleveland-starter Josh Tomlin initially got two quick outs, but then gave up a homerun to Kris Bryant.
Hereafter, both Anthony Rizzo and Ben Zobrist singled.
Next batter Addison Russell then drove the ball into right-centerfield where a miscommunication followed between centerfielder Tyler Naquin and rightfielder Lonnie Chisenhall.
Naquin appeared to run towards the ball, but then the two looked to each other.
That proved to be crucial and costly, as the ball dropped on the ground for a 2-run double and opened the game completely!
A following throwring enabled Russell to advance to third base, but he was then left behind.
But the Cubs had taken an early lead!
In the bottom of the first, Chicago-starter Jake Arrieta walked Francisco Lindor with two outs, but then closed the at with at strikeout.
Both pitchers retired the side in the second inning, but then Chicago struck again in the third and did it was a huge hit!
Kyle Schwarber, who was back in Chicago's line-up as the designated hitter, led off with a walk.
With one out, Anthony Rizzo and Ben Zobrist both singled again to load the bases.
That led to an early pitching change, as Dan Otero took over from Josh Tomlin.
But Otero's third delivery to next batter Addison Russell ended up in the centerfield-stands for a grand slam homerun!
It was the 19th grand slam in World Series-history, but the first since 2005.
Back then, in Game 2, it was Paul Konerko, who hit a grand slam for Chicago White Sox against Houston Astros.
Russell also became the second youngest player to hit a World Series-grand slam.
The youngest?
The legendary Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees in 1953.
After giving up the grand slam, Otero retired the next two batters, but the Cubs now led 7-0.
In the top of the fourth inning, Danny Salazar became the third Cleveland-pitcher and he retired the side, including two strikeouts.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Indians hit their first basehit and also came on the scoreboard.
After walking a batter in the first inning, Jake Arrieta retired seven batters in a row, but he now gave up a lead-off double to Jason Kipnis.
After Arrieta struckout next batter Francisco Lindor, he gave up a runscoring single to Mike Napoli.
Hereafter, José Ramirez lined out to rightfielder Jason Heyward, but Cleveland then got another baserunner when Arrieta hit Lonnie Chisenhall with a pitch.
The two runners then advanced on a passed ball and the bases got loaded when Coco Crisp walked.
Arrieta then ended the scoring threat by striking out Tyler Naquin to end the inning.
With two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, Cleveland got another run back when Jason Kipnis homered.
In the top of the sixth inning, Chicago got another baserunner when Javier Baez singled with two outs off of new pitcher Jeff Manship.
Another pitching change followed, as Zach McAllister took over and ended the inning with a flyout.
In the bottom of the sixth, Arrieta began with his ninth strikeout.
After next batter José Ramirez lined out to leftfield, Arrieta gave up a single to Lonnie Chisenhall and was replaced.
With that, he ended up one strikeout short of tying the Cubs-record for most strikeouts in a World Series-game.
The record of ten was set in Game 5 of the 1908 (!) Series by Orval Overall when the Cubs won 2-0 against the Detroit Tigers.
That win gave the Cubs its last World Series-title in club-history.
Mike Montgomery took over from Arrieta and his first delivery to pinch-hitter Brandon Guyer ended in a force out to end the inning.
In the top of the seventh inning, Chicago got its first two batters on base, as Kyle Schwarber and Kris Bryant both singled off of McAllister.
But a fly-out, line-out and force-out followed.
...Pedro Strop took the mound for Chicago in the 9th inning...
...Here, he pitches for the Dominican Republic against...
...the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic 2013...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
In the bottom of the seventh, Cleveland got a chance to do something back again.
The Indians didn't score, but there were three crucial moments.
With one out, Roberto Perez walked and with two outs, Jason Kipnis singled.
That brought out Chicago-Manager Joe Maddon to make a pitching change.
He replaced Mike Montgomery with Aroldis Chapman, which was crucial moment number one.
On Sunday, the Cuban pitched 2 2/3 inning, which his longest Major League-outing as a closer in a save-situation.
Now, two days later, he again came on in the seventh inning, which was a big surprise, especially since this was not a save-situation.
In case, he would throw the remainder of this game, it could be of influence on his possible effectiveness in Game 7.
Hereafter, Francisco Lindor grounded to first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who fielded the ball and threw it to Chapman, who took over first base.
A close play followed and Lindor was ruled safe, which loaded the bases.
That was crucial moment number two.
A challenge followed and the call was overturned, as Chapman's foot had just tagged the base before Lindor did.
With that, the inning ended.
Crucial moment number three was the moment when Chapman stepped on the base, as he slightly injured himself!
He limped somewhat when he walked off the field.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Chapman returned to the mound for the Cubs.
He began with a strikeout, then gave up a single to José Ramirez, but that was followed by a double play.
In the top of the ninth, with two outs, the Cubs struck again off of reliever Mike Clevinger.
First, Kris Bryant singled and was now 4-for-5.
Hereafter, Anthony Rizzo (3-for-5) homered to increase the lead to 9-2.
While the Cubs already more or less had secured itself of a seventh game and now with a comfortable lead, Chapman again returned to the mound in the bottom of the ninth inning!
The Cuban walked lead-off hitter Brandon Guyer and that was the moment that he was taken off the mound.
Pedro Strop took over and got a long flyout from Rajai Davis.
Guyer then advanced on a wild pitch and scored on a following single by Roberto Perez.
While Guyer scored, Perez tried to advance to second base, but was eliminated there on a nice throw by rightfielder Jason Heyward to short stop Addison Russell.
Hereafter, Strop walked Carlos Santana.
Strop was then relieved by Travis Wood, who saw Santana move to second base on a fielder's indifference.
A pop-fly then ended the inning and the game.
And with that, the Cubs had tied up the Series at 3-3 to force an all-deciding seventh game!
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Chicago wins big to set up all-deciding seventh game!
CLEVELAND, Ohio (USA) -
Chicago Cubs registered a big 9-3 victory against Cleveland Indians on Tuesday-evening (November 1) in Game 6 of the World Series.
With that, Chicago evened the Series at 3-3.
And with that, we will have an all-deciding seventh game for the 37th time, which will be played on Wednesday.
A week ago, on Tuesday-evening (October 25), Cleveland shutout Chicago 6-0 in the opener.
The Cleveland-pitching dominated tonight, led by starter Corey Kluber, who set a record by striking out eight batters in the first three innings.
Cleveland collected ten basehits, including two homeruns by catcher Roberto Perez, who batted in four runs.