Hegseth rules out NATO membership for Ukraine    Alleged Russian money launderer being released in exchange for Marc Fogel    US federal agencies begin mass firings    Confusion clouds efforts to save Gaza ceasefire    Saudi, French FMs discuss regional situation    Saudi-US Roundtable discusses partnership opportunities in aviation industry    Al-Hogail: Investments in developing residential suburbs exceed SR140 billion    Saudi, UAE economy ministers discuss enhancing cooperation    Saudi Arabia ranks 4th and Riyadh 3rd globally in digital services    'Ineffective' generic drugs fuel rare public anger in China    Saudi Air Force to participate in Cobra Warrior 25-1 exercise in UK    Saudi Arabia assumes presidency of GlobeE anti-corruption network    Maya Diab joins Arab stars and celebrities in celebrating the Centrepoint Ramadan 2025 collection launch at Riyadh Boulevard    Oilatum tackles rise in Eczema and Dry Skin in Saudi Arabia    HONOR brings together AI and luxury with PORSCHE DESIGN HONOR Magic7 RSR at LEAP 2025    Eagles win Super Bowl LIX to end the Chiefs' dream of a three-peat    Chinese film stirs national pride, rakes in $1bn in days    Sharifa Al-Sudairi makes historic debut at Asian Winter Games    Ivan Toney's brace secures Al Ahli victory over Al Fateh in Saudi Pro League    Al Nassr reclaims third place with 3-0 victory over Al Fayha as Jhon Durán shines    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Order vs. Morality: Lessons from New York's 1977 Blackout    India puts blockbuster Pakistani film on hold    The Vikings and the Islamic world    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Cubs, Indians hope to celebrate championship in Cleveland
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 01 - 11 - 2016

One way or another, there will be a championship celebration in Cleveland.
Still to be determined? Whether the Indians or Cubs will be celebrating.
The Cubs won a World Series game at Wrigley Field for the first time since 1945 and at least delayed Cleveland's big party with a 3-2 victory Sunday night.
Aroldis Chapman got the final eight outs in the longest appearance of his career, Jon Lester pitched six strong innings and Kris Bryant homered as Chicago cut the Indians' lead to 3-2.
So a World Series between the teams with baseball's longest title droughts goes back to Cleveland, with 2015 NL Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta set to start for the Cubs and Josh Tomlin going on short rest for the Indians in Game 6 on Tuesday night.
"We're writing our own history," Chicago shortstop Addison Russell said. "We're making history. Why stop?"
His team rolled through the regular season with a major league-leading 103 wins, took out playoff-tested San Francisco in the NL Division Series and rallied to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Championship Series.
The Cubs were so dominant at times they had their long-downtrodden fans believing that, after decades of supposed curses and sincere heartbreak, this just might be the year.
It still could be — but it would take an historic effort. Only five teams have come back from a 3-1 deficit to win a best-of-seven World Series, most recently Kansas City in 1985.
Standing in the Cubs' way is a team and a city that knows a thing or two about title droughts.
Cleveland endured a 52-year championship dry spell before LeBron James brought one home with the NBA's Cavaliers last spring. The Indians last won it all in 1948, which pales in comparison to a Cubs wait that dates to 1908.
"We're in good position, still," Cleveland slugger Mike Napoli said. "We're up 3-2 going home. We did what we had to do here. We put ourselves in position to try and win it in a crazy atmosphere. We're happy with what we did here. We're going to get home and play in front of our fans."
The Cubs are banking on another big effort from Arrieta and hoping for a better result against Tomlin.
Arrieta took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and pitched the Cubs to a 5-1 victory in Game 2 at Progressive Field. Win on Tuesday and they'll send major league ERA leader Kyle Hendricks to the mound in Game 7.
Of course, the Indians are also feeling good about their chances.
After all, Tomlin tossed 4 2/3 scoreless innings in Game 3 before giving way to that nasty bullpen. And if it goes to Game 7, well, the Indians will have their ace in play, Corey Kluber.
He — like Tomlin — would be pitching on short rest, unlike Arrieta and Hendricks. But when it comes to beating Kluber, the Cubs are 0 for 2 in this Series.
"Yeah, we get to go over there with two rested starting pitchers," Chicago manager Joe Maddon said. "I like to believe we're going to catch or gain some momentum from this game going back over there. But momentum's always based on your starting pitcher, too. And again, with these guys you saw how good their bullpen was. Once again, it's really important to grab that lead and hold onto it."
There was plenty for Maddon to like about Game 5.
The pitching performances by Chapman and Lester and the home run by Bryant topped the list. But how about Jason Heyward and his highlight-reel catch on Trevor Bauer's foul fly down the right-field line in the third inning? Heyward planted his foot and grabbed the top of the wall, then reached back toward the field with his glove to snag the ball.
Or what about Anthony Rizzo at first base?
He had the crowd roaring in the second inning when he ran in and caught a foul pop by Carlos Santana that catcher David Ross deflected near the first base dugout.
Rizzo also made a diving stop on Rajai Davis' grounder down the line in the eighth. Chapman, however, said he fell toward third on his delivery and by the time he realized it was a fair ball, it was too late to cover first.
Something else to consider:
With the Series shifting back to Cleveland, the Cubs can use slugger Kyle Schwarber as their designated hitter again.
He's not permitted to play the field, but was cleared by doctors to hit. That was a neat October surprise for the Cubs after Schwarber missed almost the entire season because of a knee injury.
"We're always confident," Rizzo said. "We get to see Tomlin now a second time on short rest. I'm going to convince myself that ... he's not going to be as sharp. (Schwarber) is back and I'm sure he's chomping at the bit." — AP


Clic here to read the story from its source.