Anthony Rizzo

World Series: Cubs erupt for seven early runs to force Game 7 against Indians

Published Nov. 15, 2016 2:36 p.m. ET

Zack Pierce

The World Series is headed to a winner-take-all Game 7.

Addison Russell tied a record with six RBIs, Jake Arrieta kept the Indians' bats mostly at bay, and the Cubs forced the decisive game with a 9-3 win in Tuesday's Game 6.

One of two historically long championship droughts will come to an end in Wednesday night's finale. The Cubs haven't won it all since 1908, the Indians since 1948.

The game got off to a horrid start for Cleveland in front of an energized crowd at Progressive Field. After starter Josh Tomlin got the first two Cubs batters out easily, Kris Bryant launched a home run to left to put Chicago on the board. Anthony Rizzo and Ben Zobrist then followed with hits to mount another threat. Russell then came up and lifted a can-of-corn fly ball to right center, but Indians outfielders Tyler Naquin and Lonnie Chisenhall botched the communication and the ball fell in for a two-RBI double.

The Cubs kept pouring it on in the third. A walk and two singles loaded the bases for Russell. Tomlin was yanked in favor of reliever Dan Otero, and Russell teed off and launched a grand slam to center to put the Cubs up 7-0 and give him six RBIs on the night, tying a World Series single-game record.

From there, the rest was mostly a formality. The Indians mounted a threat in the fourth, scoring a run and then loading the bases with two out, but Arrieta got Naquin to strike out to end it. Jason Kipnis added a solo home run in the fifth.

Arrieta came out after six innings, and after the Indians put two on against reliever Mike Montgomery, Cubs manager Joe Maddon wasted no time going to closer Aroldis Chapman for another extended outing. Chapman got eight outs to secure the Game 5 win for Cleveland, and Tuesday he got them out of the seventh and through the eighth unscathed. Rizzo added a two-run home run in the top of the ninth for a little extra cushion. After Chapman walked the leadoff batter in the ninth, Pedro Strop came on in relief. A combination of Strop and Travis Wood meandered through the final three outs — allowing Chapman's runner to score in the process — to seal the deal.

On Wednesday, it will be Corey Kluber for the Indians — already with two wins in this series — against Kyle Hendricks for the Cubs. First pitch is shortly after 8 p.m. ET on FOX. Either way, we'll see some history.