World Series 2016: Fans celebrate as Cubs beat Indians, 3-2, force Game 6 in Cleveland
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Fans celebrated at Wrigley Field and around Chicago as the Cubs bounced back to beat the Cleveland Indians 3-2 in Game 5 of the World Series Sunday night.
The Indians hold a three games to two lead in the series with Game 6 Tuesday night in Cleveland.
Fans went wild at bars around the ballpark, clapping, cheering and singing "Go Cubs Go!" They were biting their nails praying that the Cubs would pull off a win Sunday night, hoping it would not be a nightmare on Clark Street. But it was no horror story, just pure excitement.
The energy at Wrigley was captured on a YouTube video in which fans can be heard singing "Go Cubs Go!" from a mile away.
Cubs fans said they feel lucky the team is still alive and the can hardly wait until Tuesday's game.
"My heart could hardly take it last night so we were just talking about it this morning I don't know if I want it to go one more game or two more games because if it's close like last night I'm not sure I'll survive until Wednesday," said Carole Richardson.
As the Cubs set off for Cleveland Monday night, fans gave them a warm send-off.
"We just want to wish them well, and they're ready to go. They're going to kick some butt," said Samantha Beringer.
Fans poured their hearts out to the team, writing messages of gratitude in chalk on the brick wall along Sheffield Avenue after the last game of the season at Wrigley Field.
"It's amazing. I'm just so proud of Chicago. I'm proud that this is how we graffiti our stadium is love notes in chalk it's been amazing to be around here I'm constantly near tears," said Kate Kosartes.
Ryan McMaster wrote his name and his wish for a win in Cleveland Tuesday.
"It's gonna be a long couple days I'm really hoping they can win it for dad and grandpa more for them than for me but I would just love to see it happen," McMaster said.
Tuesday's game will be in Cleveland, but the crowds will still be coming to Wrigleyville, filling up the bars and maybe the streets in hopes of a victory.
"I expect the neighborhood on Tuesday night, Wednesday night to be packed I mean people have been waiting what 108 years?" said Wrigleyville resident Tony Valdivieso.
The Cubs said they would not be hosting a viewing party inside Wrigley Field.
Tens of thousands of fans could be heard singing "Go Cubs Go" after Sunday night's victory, and music has been an integral part of how fans are supporting their team in the World Series.
Cubs fan Veronica Blanco, who works as a receptionist for several radio stations, wanted to make other fans comfortable when they visit the office.
Country radio station US-99 is helping motivated fans with Cubs World Series-themed lyrics over a popular country hit by the band Old Dominion.
"We're just all in for the team, and the music intertwines. We're just one city rooting for a World Series," said Drew Walker, US-99.
And the Cubs-themed music comes in many genres. WXRT DJ Lin Brehmer is living and breathing the cubs during the series. As a season ticket holder he's been at every game, and like most fans he's been dreaming of the Cubs in the World Series. At work he celebrates and tries to motivate the North Siders with music.
"And believe me, with the generations that have loved the Chicago Cubs and the history of this particular team, it's not hard to get people emotional about the Chicago Cubs in 2016," said Lin Brehmer, WXRT.
CUBS CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN IN CHICAGO ON REST DAY
Lucky for some Cubs, their day of rest between Games 5 and 6 fell on Halloween, giving them an opportunity to celebrate with friends and family.
Centerfielder Dexter Fowler tweeted out a picture with the caption "Squeezed in trick or treating with the family !"
Pitcher John Lackey's wife, Kristina, also tweeted out a picture of their family dressed up for Halloween, including Lackey's son who dressed up as his dad's teammate Kris Bryant.
Addison Russell tweeted a picture of himself and his wife as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
It wasn't just the Cubs dressing up; in Lakeview at a trick-or-treating event, kids and parents alike were dressed up in Cubbies blue.
"I'm the ghost of 1908. I just came back to win the World Series," said one attendee.
Another young Cubs fan was dressed as Jake Arrieta.
Click here to see more Cubs in costume this year and in years past.
WRIGLEYVILLE AVOIDS MAJOR SECURITY ISSUES
Thousands of fans poured into Wrigleyville over the weekend, and most bars had lines out the door. Several were cited for going over capacity and forced to close early.
"We constantly had a line out the door. It was two days of no sleep," said Iman Bambooyani, owner of Raw Bar on Clark Street.
Raw Bar was shut down on Saturday night for going over capacity. Bambooyani they were over by about 30 people. But the city's Buildings Department and CFD made him shut down the restaurant in the second inning of Game 4.
"It was absolutely not fair."
Yak-zie's was also forced to close its doors due to overcrowding, as was Redmond's on Sheffield. Murphy's Bleachers was also cited for overcrowding; its outdoor televisions were stripped off the walls to keep rowdy fans indoors and off the sidewalk.
"It's hard to keep everyone under control," said Kyle Montgomery, bartender and Wrigleyville resident.
Montgomery was bartending over the World Series weekend. When he wasn't working, he said he was checking his property.
"My car wasn't flipped over, so that aws good," he said.
Over the three days the Cubs played this weekend, the city said that there were 20 arrests, mostly for disorderly conduct and counterfeit ticket sales, the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communication said.
"While we were hopeful for a clinch in Chicago, we are extremely proud of the Cubs, and look forward to cheering them on as they play in Cleveland Tuesday," said Rich Guidice, First Deputy Director of the Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications. "We are equally proud of our residents and fans, who supported their team safely and respected the surrounding community over the weekend."
On Friday, the Chicago Fire Department shut down an illegal bar at 3450 North Clark Street, and illegal construction site part at 3650 North Clark Street. One illegal rooftop restaurant at 3415 North Clark was also closed. An illegal rooftop at 950 West Addison Street was closed on Sunday.
Now that the World Series has gone back to Cleveland, businesses around Wrigley are taking a much needed break from the madness. One pizza joint put up a sign that said simply, "Closed to recharge our battery from a very busy weekend."
CHAPMAN, CUBS STOP INDIANS, CUT WORLD SERIES DEFICIT TO 3-2
They have waited 108 years for a championship. So with this World Series on the verge of slipping away, the Chicago Cubs could not wait any longer.
Manager Joe Maddon summoned closer Aroldis Chapman from the bullpen in the seventh inning for the first eight-out save of his big league career, a desperate move in a dire situation with the Cubs needing to hold off the Cleveland Indians in Game 5.
As nervous fans fretted at Wrigley Field, the big Cuban left-hander fired his 100 mph heat over and over, preserving a 3-2 win Sunday night that cut Cleveland's Series lead to 3-2.
"I didn't expect to come in so early, but I mentally prepared myself," Chapman said through a translator. "I was ready to come in at a moment's notice."
The crowd of 41,711 erupted when Jose Ramirez, who had homered earlier, foul tipped a 101 mph offering at the outside corner into the glove of catcher Willson Contreras for the final out.
A white flag with a blue "W'' was raised atop Wrigley Field after a Series win for the first time since Oct. 8, 1945, in Game 6 over Detroit. Fans stayed long after the final out and sang "Sweet Home Chicago" as Cubs returned to the field for media interviews.
"High anxiety," first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. "A lot of deep breaths. Every pitch gets bigger and bigger as the game goes on. It's unbelievable. Great win here. We sent these fans off with a win. Now we have to go to Cleveland and win."
Chicago, which led the majors this year with 103 regular-season wins, will try to extend its season again Tuesday night when Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta faces Josh Tomlin. The Cubs are trying to become the first club to overcome a 3-1 Series deficit since the 1985 Kansas City Royals and the first to do it by winning Games 6 and 7 on the road since the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates.
Seeking its first title since 1948, Cleveland is in search of its third-ever title and has won the championship at home just once, in 1920. Over 67,000 showed up at Progressive Field just to watch the three road games on the video board.
"It's going to be crazy. It's going to be nuts," first baseman Mike Napoli said. "They're going to be pretty fired up, and they're going to get us going."
Chapman, obtained from the Yankees in July, hadn't pitched in the seventh inning since 2012. He took a chug of water from a plastic bottle on the left-field bullpen mound when Maddon called him in with a runner on.
"That was a big ask, and he answered," Indians manager Terry Francona said. "That was impressive."
Of Chapman's 42 pitches, 15 flew in at 100 mph or faster.
"It's something you can't normally do during the season without beating somebody up too badly," Maddon said. "But I talked to Chappy before the game. He was aware of being ready in the seventh inning. So we had that all in play."
Chapman struck out four, raising his total to eight over five innings in three Series appearances.
"This guy's used to just getting three outs," Cubs starter Jon Lester said. "He was fired up. We were all fired up to get through that."
With the crowd at the Friendly Confines desperate, Kris Bryant homered to start a three-run burst in the fourth off Trevor Bauer that gave Lester a 3-1 lead. The Indians nicked Lester for a run in the sixth, and Carl Edwards Jr. took over to begin the seventh with a 3-2 edge.
Chapman came in with a runner on second and one out and retired Roberto Perez on an inning-ending groundout with two on as fans screamed. After Rajai Davis stole second and third in the eighth, Francisco Lindor took a 101 mph pitch at the knees for an inning-ending called third strike, then stood in the batter's box for nearly 20 seconds in anger and frustration.
Chapman finished with a 1-2-3 ninth. He threw 35 fastballs, six sliders and one changeup.
Lester, the Game 1 loser, improved to 4-1 in Series play by allowing two runs and six hits.
Ramirez homered in the second to put the Indians ahead, and Cleveland closed within a run in the sixth when Davis singled, stole second scored on a two-out single by Lindor, who is hitting .421 in the Series.
Bauer, his pinkie seemingly healed from a cut sustained while playing with a toy drone during the AL Championship Series, dropped to 0-2 in the Series, giving up three runs and six hits in four innings.
After a pair of relatively balmy autumn nights on the North Side, the temperature dropped to 50 degrees at game time and a 10 mph win added chill. Maddon wore a Cubs ski hat with a blue pompom rather than a baseball cap.
Bryant, in a 1-for-15 slide, led off the fourth by driving a fastball into the left-field bleachers, where a fan in the first row dropped it.
Rizzo sent the next pitch off the ivy on the right-field wall for a double, admiring its flight before hustling, took third on Ben Zobrist's single and came home with the go-ahead run when Addison Russell reached out and topped a pitch down the third-base line for an infield single.
Jason Heyward took a called third strike, slumping Javier Baez dropped a bunt down the third-base line for a single that loaded the bases and Ross, a 39-year-old making perhaps his final big league start, hit a sacrifice fly for a 3-1 lead.
"We're writing our own history. We're making history. Why stop?" Russell said. "This is entertaining to us. It's fun, and we live for this."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
