The Chicago Cubs have beaten the Cleveland Indians in extra time to win their first baseball World Series since 1908 and end one of the longest title droughts in professional sports.
Aroldis Chapman of the Chicago Cubs celebrates with teammates after defeating the Cleveland Indians 8-7 in Game Seven of the 2016 World Series in Cleveland, Ohio. Photo: AFP
The Cubs beat the Cleveland Indians 8-7 in extra innings this afternoon.
The game was tied at six-all after the regulation nine innings.
The Cubs then scored two runs in the 10th and the Indians could only respond with one.
With the win, the Cubs clinched the best-of-seven series in seven games, over an Indians team that fell one victory short of their first Major League Baseball title in 68 years, after squandering a commanding 3-1 series lead.
The triumph of Chicago's beloved Cubbies set off a wild celebration in the streets of the Windy City after more than a century of pent up frustration for fans since their last Major League Baseball championship 108 years ago.
Cubs players held their own euphoric party on the Progressive Field diamond cheered on by boisterous contingent of their fans after earlier squandering a 6-3 lead with four outs left in the game only to bounce back for the precious victory.
"This is one of the best games anybody will ever see," said Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant, who scooped up Michael Martinez's grounder and fired to first for the final out. "This trumps everything. I'm out here crying. I can't really put into words what this means."
Dexter Fowler of the Chicago Cubs celebrates after hitting a home run in the first inning against the Cleveland Indians in Game Seven of the 2016 World Series. Photo: AFP
Leftfielder Ben Zobrist, who put the Cubs ahead in the 10th with an RBI double and who batted .357 in the series with two doubles and a triple, was named the most valuable player of the World Series.
The win in the early hours of Thursday morning capped a Chicago comeback from a 3-1 deficit in the best-of-seven, a feat last achieved by the Kansas City Royals in 1985.
It was the third World Series crown for the Cubs, while the disconsolate Indians replaced them as the team with the longest current World Series title drought, 68 years and counting.
"I don't know but it happened," said first baseman Anthony Rizzo. "Chicago, it happened. We did it, we're world champions."
- Reuters
Willson Contreras of the Chicago Cubs in action during the fourth inning against the Cleveland Indians in Game Seven of the 2016 World Series at Progressive Field in Cleveland, Ohio. Photo: AFP
