Indians edge Cubs at Wrigley Field in Game 3, forge 2-1 lead in World Series
The Cleveland Indians have taken control of the World Series.
Coco Crisp's pinch-hit single in the seventh inning scored pinch-runner Michael Martinez and broke a scoreless tie in Game 3 of the Fall Classic as the Indians stole a 1-0 victory from the Chicago Cubs on Friday evening at Wrigley Field.
At this point, it's hard for Cubs fans to refrain from rehearsing all the pain they've endured over the years. After all, the team has had a singularly odd series of failures and curses.
In the 1938 World Series, the legendary Babe Ruth pointed his bat toward Wrigley Field's ivy-covered outfield fences, and then hit a "called shot" home run that led the Yankees to victory.
In 1945, a local bar owner was denied entrance when he brought a goat to a World Series game, giving rise to the "Billy Goat Curse" that fans feel has vexed the team ever since.
In the 1984 playoffs, a crucially missed ground ball was blamed on a first basemen's glove being soaked, between innings, by a spilled drink of Gatorade.
And in 2003 - with the team was five outs away from reaching the World Series for the first time since 1945 - a fan, the notorious Steve Bartman, interfered with a foul ball before a subsequent string of on-field gaffes ultimately cost the Cubs the game.
Well, it might be too early to panic. But facing a deficit entering Game 4 is pretty daunting, especially with former Cy Young winner Corey Kluber throwing for the Indians next. The righthander tossed six scoreless innings with nine strikeouts in Game 1.
In this contest, though, the Indians scored their lone run in the seventh innings, when Crisp connected on an RBI single to bring in Martinez.
Starter Mike Tomlin tossed 4 2/3 solid innings, while Andrew Miller, Bryan Shaw and Cody Allen finished off the Cubs, who were playing their first World Series home game in 71 years.
