Cubs rock Tomlin to force World Series game 7
CLEVELAND, Ohio – Indians starting pitcher Josh Tomlin gave up six runs in 2 1/3 innings, and the Chicago Cubs defeated Cleveland 9-3 to force a decisive game 7 of the World Series.
Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant smacked a solo home run to take an early 1-0 lead with two outs in the first inning. Â The Cubs kept the two-out lightning alive when Addison Russell doubled to right center, scoring Anthony Rizzo and Ben Zobrist.
Russell put an exclamation point on his monster night with grand slam off Dan Otero in the third, giving Chicago a 7-0 advantage. The 22-year-old knocked in six of Chicago’s nine runs.
The Indians scored in the fourth and fifth innings to cut the deficit to a handful of runs. First baseman Mike Napoli singled to center to score Jason Kipnis, and Kipnis smacked a solo home run to left.
The Cubs tacked on two more runs in the ninth when Rizzo clubbed a two-run homer. Â The Tribe tallied their third and final run in the bottom of the frame, but could not climb closer than a six-run deficit.
Tomlin was pegged with the loss, while Chicago starter Jake Arrieta improved to 2-0 in the World Series with the win.
The first pitch for game 7 is slated for 8:00 p.m. Wednesday night from Progressive Field. Corey Kluber is expected to start for the Tribe opposite Chicago’s Kyle Hendricks. Kluber is 4-1 in five postseason starts with a 0.89 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 30 1/3 innings.
