Cleveland Indians to drop 'Chief Wahoo' logo criticized as racist

NEW YORK - The Cleveland Indians will remove the grinning "Chief Wahoo" logo from their uniforms beginning in the 2019 season, the baseball team said on Monday, in a bow to critics who have long assailed the image as a racist Native American caricature.

The decision, which could raise pressure on other U.S. sports teams to abandon similar imagery, came after a year of discussions between the Indians and Major League Baseball, the governing organization led by Commissioner Rob Manfred.


MLB had urged the team to remove Chief Wahoo even though many of its fans had wanted to keep the logo, which made its debut in 1947, according to a statement issued by MLB and the Indians.

"While we recognize many of our fans have a longstanding attachment to Chief Wahoo, I'm ultimately in agreement with Commissioner Manfred's desire to remove the logo from our uniforms in 2019," Cleveland Indians owner Paul Dolan said.

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson said the decision was good for the city.

"I applaud the team’s decision to show the city, nation and world that Cleveland is an inclusive place that values all diversity - in this case showing greater honor to our nation’s first people by retiring the Wahoo mascot from uniforms,” he said.

Clyde Bellecourt, co-founder of the Minneapolis-based American Indian Movement, or AIM, said Chief Wahoo was the "ugliest" of the many mascots based on Native American caricatures used by American sports teams.

“It’s about time, we’ve been after them for years,” said Bellecourt, 81, a member of the Chippewa tribe.

The Indians will still feature the logo, a cartoon figure with red skin, a toothy smile and a feather in his headband, on merchandise sold in their stores in northeast Ohio and in Goodyear, Arizona, where the Indians hold spring training.

Using the logo on merchandise will also allow the Indians to retain control of it as a trademark as well as help fans keep their "connection" with the character, the statement said.

The team may look into creating a different logo in the future, but will continue for now using a capital 'C' as its main symbol, said the statement, which added the Indians had no plans to change the team's name.

OTHER TEAMS FACE CRITICISM  

The Chief Wahoo logo was at the center of a legal dispute in Canada when the Indians played the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2016 American League Championship Series.

Following an allegation that the logo was offensive to indigenous people under Canadian law, a judge ultimately allowed the team to display it while playing in Toronto.

MLB's Atlanta Braves, the National Hockey League's Chicago Blackhawks and the National Football League's Washington Redskins and Kansas City Chiefs have faced similar criticism, but the Washington franchise has become the most visible target.

"Cleveland's decision should finally compel the Washington football team to make the same honorable decision," Ray Halbritter, a member of the Native American Oneida Nation who leads the Change the Mascot campaign, said in a statement.

Members of AIM are planning to protest outside an NFL dinner in St. Paul, Minnesota, on Thursday, three days before the Super Bowl. The group hopes that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will step up pressure on Redskins owner Daniel Snyder to change the team's name.

A spokesman for Snyder, who has opposed the name change in the past, said in an email to Reuters that the franchise “will refrain from making a comment.”

Representatives of the Braves, Blackhawks and Chiefs did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Cleveland's decision.

(Reporting by Peter Szekely and Jonathan Allen in New York; Editing by Frank McGurty and Peter Cooney)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Indians, Dodgers teams to beat as playoffs begin

WASHINGTON -- The Cleveland Indians, seeking their first crown since 1948, and the Los Angeles Dodgers, whose title drought only dates to 1988, are the clubs to beat as the Major League Baseball playoffs begin.

Only last year, the Chicago Cubs ended the longest title drought in North American sports history, winning their first World Series crown since 1908 by defeating Cleveland in a dramatic seventh-game showdown.

Now the Indians, who unleashed an American League-record 22-game win streak, are back in the playoffs and with the AL's best record at 102-60, the second-most season wins in club history. Now they own baseball's longest title drought.

"From the start of the season, our goal has been to get back to the postseason and then go as far we can," shortstop Francisco Lindor said.

The Indians boast one of baseball's top pitchers in right-hander Corey Kluber, who went 18-4 with a majors-best 2.25 earned-run average and 265 strikeouts this season. And Tribe right-hander Carlos Carrasco of Venezuela went 18-6.

Indians outfielder Jay Bruce, who joined Cleveland at mid-season, could feel the hunger for another chance at the crown the minute he walked into the locker room.

"I think the expectations for this year were set from last year's experience and accomplishments and the failure to win game seven of the World Series, although that wasn't a failure by any means," Bruce said. "But every guy in our clubhouse feels like they should have won it last year. I felt that as soon as I got here."

While Cleveland lost the World Series to a team with a championship drought 40 years longer than their own, they could face a team whose title drought is 40 years shorter in the Dodgers, who led the major leagues with a 104-58 mark. Their 57 home wins also topped the majors.

 And the Dodgers counter with a mound ace of their own in left-hander Clayton Kershaw, who went 18-4 with a National League-best 2.31 ERA, second only to Kluber in the majors, and 202 strikeouts. Los Angeles also features right-handed closer Kenley Jansen, whose 41 saves shared the NL best.

The playoffs open with two one-game wildcard showdowns between the best non-division winners -- the New York Yankees entertain Minnesota on Tuesday in the American League while Colorado will visit Arizona on Wednesday.

The Yankees-Twins winner gets a best-of-five series against the Indians that opens at Cleveland on Thursday, the same day the Boston Red Sox visit Houston in the other American League semi-final series.

In the National League, the Colorado-Arizona winner visits the Dodgers to open their National League semi-final series while the defending champion Cubs travel to Washington for their opening matchup.

- Long drought in Washington, too -

Houston's Jose Altuve, a Venezuelan second baseman, led the major leagues with a .346 batting average.

Yankees' slugger Aaron Judge led the AL with 52 home runs and his powerful hitting could spark the 27-time World Series champions to yet another deep playoff run.

Washington second baseman Daniel Murphy matched Dodgers third baseman Justin Turner at .322 to share third in the NL batting race and the Nationals also a formidable starting rotation of pitchers paced by right-handers Max Scherzer, 16-6 with a 2.51 ERA and 268 strikeouts, and Stephen Strasburg, 15-4 with a 2.52 ERA and 204 strikeouts.

Toss in lefty Gio Gonzalez, 15-9 with a 2.96 ERA, and Washington fans are dreaming of the US capitol's first World Series berth since 1933 and first crown since 1924.

That includes two Washington clubs that relocated, becoming Minnesota and Texas, and 33 seasons with no team before the Montreal Expos moved to Washington for the 2005 campaign -- a franchise that has not played in a World Series in its 48-year history.

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Indians' AL record win streak halted at 22 games

WASHINGTON - The Cleveland Indians' historic winning streak was halted at 22 games on Friday as they fell 4-3 to the Kansas City Royals.

A day after the Indians rallied in the ninth inning en route to a 10th-inning walkoff win over the Royals to keep the streak alive, they were unable to come up with another great escape, and baseball's longest win streak in more than a century ended.

Before a packed house of appreciative home fans in Cleveland, the Indians lost for the first time since August 23.

Their 22 straight triumphs set an American League record -- surpassing the previous AL mark of 20 straight established by the Oakland Athletics in 2002.

Cleveland surpassed the 21-game streak put together by National League's Chicago Cubs in 1935 -- but came up short in pursuit of the Major League record 26-game winning streak of the 1916 New York Giants.

"Common sense says you're eventually going to lose a game. It was a lot of fun," Indians manager Terry Francona said.

Lorenzo Cain had three hits and Alicides Escobar and Brandon Moss hit home runs for the Royals off Indians starting pitcher Trevor Bauer.

The Indians' Francisco Lindor struck out with a runner on first with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to end it -- sparking a massive ovation from Cleveland fans in appreciation of the three-week ride.

Indians players and Francona emerged from their dugout and tipped their caps to the crowd.

"They've been so supportive," Francona said of the fans. "The atmosphere here has been incredible. Our players wanted to show their appreciation."

Mike Minor pitched the ninth inning for Kansas City and earned his first career save. He gave up a single to Yandy Diaz to lead off the inning, then struck out Yan Gomes, Francisco Mejia and Lindor.

Lindor was one of the heroes on Thursday when the Indians trailed by one and were down to their last strike in the when he smacked a run-scoring double to send the game to extra innings.

Cleveland went on to win that one 3-2 when Jay Bruce drove in a run in the 10th.

"What they did is utterly amazing. Unfathomable," Kansas City manager Ned Yost said. "To go over three weeks without losing a game, that's incredible."

Nevertheless, Yost added, "We didn't show up to be part of that streak.

"We had every intention of beating the streak," he said. Our guys played their hearts out.

On Friday, Royals pitchers held Cleveland scoreless on three hits over the last six innings. The Indians had runners at first and second with one out in the seventh, but Trevor Cahill induced Austin Jackson to ground into an inning-ending double play.

- Indians playoff bound -
Lindor led off the bottom of the first with a double to left field and scored on Edwin Encarnacion's fly out.

The Royals pulled the run back in the second when Escobar belted a 2-2 pitch from Bauer over the left field wall.

Cleveland answered with two runs in the third, when Jackson doubled with two outs and scored on Jose Ramirez's homer.

Bauer gave up a home run over to center from Moss to lead off the fourth, and the Royals tied it in the fifth when Eric Hosmer singled in a run.

Kansas City took a 4-3 lead in the sixth, when Cain's single scored Alex Gordon.

"The magnitude of the streak didn't hit me until (Thursday night)," Bauer said. "It was a hell of a run. It's the second 22-game winning streak I've blown. In 2010 at UCLA (university) we won our first 22 games. I pitched the 23rd game and lost. Have someone else pitch for 23."

The Indians are back in action in Cleveland on Saturday, when they again host the Royals. Although the streak is over, the AL Central division leaders have already secured their playoff berth.

"I don't think anything is over," Francona said. "We showed up tonight to win, and we didn't win. To me this is a jumping off point. Where do we go from here? Up."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Indians set AL record with 21st straight win

WASHINGTON -- Jay Bruce and Roberto Perez both homered as the Cleveland Indians set an American League record with their 21st consecutive win -- a 5-3 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday.

Cleveland had matched the 2002 Oakland Athletics' 20-game winning streak with a win over the Tigers on Tuesday.

With another triumph in front of ecstatic home fans in Cleveland they surpassed that AL record, and tied the 1935 Chicago Cubs for the second-longest winning streak in Major League history.

The 26-game wining streak by the 1916 New York Giants is considered the longest ever in the Major Leagues -- despite the fact that the Giants' run actually included one tie game, which wasn't counted toward official statistics.

"It's pretty special," said Indians manager Terry Francona, who has played down the streak in a bid to ease pressure on his players, who haven't lost a game since August 23.

The Indians have out-scored opponents 139-35 during the streak.

"Our guys are enjoying it, and they should," Francona said. "When you do something and do it the right way, you should enjoy it."

Indians starting pitcher Mike Clevinger gave up one earned run in 5 2/3 innings to get the win.

Cody Allen pitched the ninth inning to earn his 27th save.

Detroit starter Buck Farmer gave up four runs in four innings and took the loss.

The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Indians responded promptly.

Francisco Lindor led off the bottom of the first with a double into the right field corner.

Lonnie Chisenhall struck out but Jose Ramirez drew a walk. Farmer struck out Edwin Encarnacion for the second out, but Bruce hit a fly ball to left field that just made it over the wall for a three-run homer and a 3-1 lead.

The Indians scored again in a testy third inning in which Detroit manager Brad Ausums and catcher James McCann were ejected.

Jose Ramirez doubled with two outs and scored on a bloop single to right field by Encarnacion to extend the Indians' lead to 4-1.

Bruce, the next hitter, took a close pitch for ball four. McCann said something to home plate umpire Quinn Wolcott, and was immediately thrown out of the game.

Ausmus, who was on his way to the mound, detoured to the plate to argue further and he, too, was sent packing.

With Carlos Santana, the next hitter, at the plate, and John Hicks, the next catcher, behind it, Farmer threw a fastball that Hicks reached for but missed. The ball hit Wolcott in the left shoulder, knocking him on his back. After a brief delay, Wolcott remained in the game.

The Tigers knocked Clevinger out of the game in the sixth inning, scoring two unearned runs. Miguel Cabrera hit a grounder to third baseman Yandy Diaz, who threw wildly to first for an error, allowing Cabrera to reach second base.

Castellano followed with a double, scoring Cabrera to make it 4-2. Clevinger retired the next two hitters, but Andrew Romine lined a single to right, scoring Castellanos as Cleveland's lead dwindled to 4-3.

Farmer and relief pitcher Daniel Norris combined to retire 11 straight batters through the middle innings.

But the Indians stretched their lead to 5-3 when Perez smacked an 0-2 pitch from Norris over the center field wall.

The Indians have trailed for only four of the 189 innings played during the streak. Indians starting pitchers during the streak are 19-0 with a 1.67 ERA.

"Everybody pretty much has had a hand in doing something," Francona said.

Bruce said the key was not to focus on all the victories piling up and the historical implications as they do.

"We're not consumed by the streak," Bruce said. "What consumes us is coming to the park every day getting ready to play that game.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Zobrist named World Series MVP

CLEVELAND - Cubs leftfielder Ben Zobrist was named most valuable player of the World Series on Wednesday after delivering the go-ahead run in the 10th inning of Chicago's deciding 8-7 victory over the Cleveland Indians.

With the Indians having come back in the eighth inning to tie Game Seven at 6-6, Zobrist stepped to the plate and doubled down the leftfield line to score Albert Almora and put Chicago back in front 7-6.

Miguel Montero followed with what would be the game-winning RBI, snapping Chicago's 108-year championship drought.

It was the second consecutive year Zobrist has celebrated a World Series triumph, having helped the Kansas City Royals to the Major League Baseball championship last season.

Zobrist was 10-for-28 for a .357 batting average during the World Series with two doubles and a triple.

(Editing by Nick Mulvenney/Larry Fine)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Cubs win World Series for first time since 1908

The Chicago Cubs beat the Cleveland Indians 8-7 in extra innings on Wednesday to win their first World Series since 1908 and end the longest title drought in North American professional sports.

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.

(Reporting by Larry Fine; Editing by Frank Pingue)

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Cubs crush Indians to send World Series to Game 7

CLEVELAND - The Chicago Cubs set up a winner-take-all Game Seven of the World Series by crushing the Cleveland Indians 9-3 on Tuesday to level Major League Baseball's best-of-seven championship.

Facing elimination, reigning Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta won his second game of the series, backed by 22-year-old shortstop Addison Russell, who smashed a grand slam on his way to logging a World Series record-tying six runs batted in.

Kris Bryant, who had four hits, and Anthony Rizzo also homered for Chicago, who erupted for 13 hits off six Indians pitchers.


The victory kept alive the Cubs' quest of winning their first Fall Classic title in 108 years, and for the second time in as many games Chicago put on hold Cleveland's celebration of a first World Series crown since 1948.

The deciding Game Seven will be played in Cleveland on Wednesday with the Indians starting ace Corey Kluber, winner of two games already this series, against Chicago's Kyle Hendricks, the National League ERA leader.

(Editing by Frank Pingue)

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Cubs stay alive with win over Indians

Win keeps alive dream of first title in 108 years

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Cubs kept alive their World Series hopes by beating the Indians, 3-2, in Game 5 at Wrigley Field on Sunday to send the best-of-seven Major League Baseball championship back to Cleveland.

The Indians lead the series 3-2 ahead of Game 6 on Tuesday.

Chicago's quiet bats came to life in the fourth inning with three runs, sparked by a home run from Kris Bryant and four more hits that followed that allowed the Cubs to hold on to the dream of winning their first World Series in 108 years.

On the brink of elimination, Cubs ace starter Jon Lester turned in a strong six innings to reignite roars from the home crowd and flame-throwing reliever Aroldis Chapman did a yeoman's job in registering the last eight outs to preserve the must win.

"It didn't feel like an elimination game," said 24-year-old third baseman Bryant. "Jon (Lester) doing his thing, Chapman coming in for eight outs. That was an unbelievable win."

Rizzo, who followed Bryant's blast with a double off the wall in right and came around to score, had a different take on the mounting tension in the win-or-go-home thriller.

"High anxiety and a lot of deep breaths," Rizzo said about dealing with the pressure. "Every pitch gets bigger and bigger as the game goes on.

"Great win, to set these fans off with a win. Now we get to go back to Cleveland and take care of business."

Chapman, whose longest outing this season was 2 1/3 innings, was asked to go one out longer when Cubs manager Joe Maddon brought him in with out in the seventh and a man on first and the score 3-2.

But the Cuban-born reliever poured his 100 mph-plus fastballs in to overpower the Indians, striking out four on his way to the critical save.

Lester, who yielded two runs on four hits while striking out five, registered the victory. Cleveland starter Trevor Bauer took the loss, his second of the Series.

Before the game, spirits did not seem as high among fans compared to the first two games played in Chicago, as revelers seemed subdued, wary of a third straight loss at Wrigley.

But by the end, the crowd was roaring and after Jose Ramirez struck out to end the game, fans inside and outside Wrigley stood and sang the team song with the title dream still alive.

"I'm feeling amazing," Nicole Herrington, who lives a few blocks from the stadium with her husband and four-month-old boy, told Reuters. "We can't believe that they are not (going to win).

"It's been unbelievable. One hundred and three wins in the regular season. They got to take it in Cleveland. They have to take it in Cleveland.

"How can we not win it now?"

Chicago's Jake Arrieta, the Game 2 winner for the Cubs, is scheduled to start Game 6 on Tuesday against Josh Tomlin, with a Game 7 to be played in Cleveland on Wednesday if needed.

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Indians rip Cubs to reach brink of World Series title

CHICAGO -- Cleveland's Corey Kluber pitched superbly on short rest while Jason Kipnis and Carlos Santana smashed home runs as the Indians moved within one victory of their first World Series title since 1948 by routing the Chicago Cubs 7-2 on Saturday.

The Indians took a 3-1 lead in Major League Baseball's best-of-seven final and can end their title drought -- while extending Chicago's epic 107-year futility streak -- by winning game five Sunday at Wrigley Field.

The Cubs, in their first World Series since 1945, are trying to end the longest title drought in American sports history by capturing their first World Series since 1908. The Indians' 67-year title drought is the second longest in the major leagues.

Teams with a 3-1 Series edge have won the crown 10 consecutive times, last failing in 1985 when Kansas City won the final three games to defeat St. Louis.

Kipnis, a Chicago native who grew up cheering on the Cubs, blasted a three-run homer in the seventh inning that added to the misery of long-suffering Cubs fans while Santana belted a solo homer in the second inning.

Indians starting pitcher Kluber allowed only one run on five hits over six innings with six strikeouts. The 30-year-old right-hander became the first pitcher since Cincinnati's Jose Rijo in 1990 to win games one and four of the World Series.

Kluber struck out nine and scattered four hits over six scoreless innings in Tuesday's opener as Cleveland blanked the Cubs 6-0. He's now 5-1 in the playoffs with a 0.74 earned-run average.

Chicago's 38-year-old right-handed pitcher John Lackey, a two-time World Series champion, surrendered three runs on four hits over five innings in his 23rd career playoff start, the most of any active pitcher.

Chicago batters tagged Kluber early as Dexter Fowler opened the game with a double to left field and scored on Anthony Rizzo's single to centerfield.

But Santana answered with a solo homer to lead off the second inning and two errors by Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant led to a 2-1 Cleveland lead.

Bryant's throwing error allowed Lonnie Chisenhall to reach first base and after he advanced on Roberto Perez's ground out and Tyler Naquin was intentionally walked, Kluber tapped an infield single down the third base line to set up another errant throw by Bryant, allowing Chisenhall to score the go-ahead run.

The Indians stretched their edge to 3-1 in the third when Kipnis doubled to the rightfield wall and Francisco Lindor singled to bring him home. It was Lindor's sixth hit of the Series making him, at 22, the youngest player since 1997 with so many.

Lindor walked to open the sixth and advanced on a hard-hit Santana single that knocked the glove off Cubs relief pitcher Mike Montgomery. Lindor took third base on a fielder's choice by Jose Ramirez and scored on a sacrifice fly out by Chisenhall to put Cleveland ahead 4-1.

- Kipnis follows Babe Ruth -

Indians pinch-hitter Coco Crisp batted for Kluber in the seventh inning and doubled to rightfield, then took third base on a wild pitch by Cubs reliever Justin Grimm, who then hit Rajai Davis to put runners at the corners.

That prompted Chicago to insert pitcher Travis Wood and he surrendered the homer to Kipnis that all-but sealed the Cubs' fate.

It was the first three-run World Series homer by an opposing player at Wrigley Field since Babe Ruth's famous "called shot" in 1932, when the New York Yankees legend pointed to the outfield bleachers and smashed the next pitch into the stands.

Fowler added a homer for Chicago in the eighth, the first World Series homer by an African-American player in Cubs history. Major League Baseball's first black player, Jackie Robinson, did not break the sport's racial barrier until 1947, two years after the Cubs last played in the World Series.

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Indians seize 2-1 lead in World Series over Cubs

CHICAGO - Coco Crisp snapped a scoreless tie in the seventh inning with a pinch-hit single that gave the Cleveland Indians a 1-0 win over the Chicago Cubs in a pivotal Game Three of the World Series on Friday.

Cleveland then leaned on their bullpen to seize a 2-1 lead in the best-of-seven Fall Classic and spoil an Opening Night party for the Cubs, who were hosting their first World Series game in 71 years.

The game ended in frustrating fashion for the Cubs, who left runners on second and third in the ninth inning when Javier Baez struck out on a high fastball against closer Cody Allen in the second shutout loss of the series for Chicago.

Andrew Miller, who relieved starter Josh Tomlin in the fifth, was credited with the win as four Cleveland pitchers combined on a five-hitter. Reliever Carl Edwards Jr, one of six pitchers used by the Cubs, took the loss.

The Indians' victory jettisoned any chance the Cubs had of clinching the World Series title at home with only the next two games left to be played in Chicago.

With the wind blowing out toward Wrigley Field's reachable, ivy-covered outfield walls, offensive fireworks were anticipated but it was the pitchers that held sway along with bench player Crisp, who ruined the fun for a packed house of nearly 42,000.

Roars rolled through the old stadium in the opening innings but as the game wore on a worried stillness marked the tense battle.

Tomlin, spotting his pitches with pinpoint accuracy, kept the Cubs off balance and off the bases, while Chicago starter Kyle Hendricks escaped jam after jam.

Three times in the first five innings Cleveland got a baserunner to third but could not advance him the last 90 feet.

In the fifth, the Cubs escaped a bases loaded, one-out threat when Justin Grimm got Francisco Lindor to ground into a double play and the crowd erupted with cheers.

But the bubble burst in the seventh.

Roberto Perez led off with a single, was bunted over to second base by Tyler Naquin and Rajai Davis followed with a walk.

That set the stage for Crisp, who stepped to the plate to hit for reliever Miller and singled to right to score pinch-runner Michael Martinez for the game's only run.

Game Four of Major League Baseball's championship series is set for Saturday with Indians ace Corey Kluber, the Game One winner, scheduled to start against Chicago's John Lackey.

(Editing by Steve Keating)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Fate of 'cursed' Cubs fueling World Series fever

CHICAGO -- Chicago Cubs fans hoping to see their team end a World Series title drought stretching back more than a century are paying a hefty price for the opportunity.

After splitting the first two games of Major League Baseball's Fall Classic with the Indians in Cleveland, the Cubs head home for Games 3, 4 and 5 and ticket prices at venerable Wrigley Field have skyrocketed.

Prices posted on ticket reselling site StubHub for game three -- the first World Series game at Wrigley Field in 71 years -- showed a pair of standing room only tickets being offered at $2,250 apiece, while a pair of tickets to box seats near a dugout were offered at $30,000 each on Thursday afternoon.

ESPN, citing "insiders" with access to StubHub buyer and seller data, said the median price of a ticket sold via the site for game three was $3,000. The median price reflects the middle number in the series of ticket prices arranged in order of value.

The median price of tickets sold for games one and two of the series in Cleveland was $1,000.

If a spot in the stadium is out of reach, fans keen to soak up the atmosphere can purchase tickets to view the game from a "Wrigley rooftop" -- on buildings that overlook the ballpark and cater to fans. Even those cost nearly $1,000.

Prices exploded as soon as the Cubs booked their World Series berth with a National League Championship Series win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Tickets for Friday's game three were promptly listed on event ticket search engine TicketIQ for an average of $6,155.

"I was not expecting an average asking price in the $6,000 range. It was a surprise even for a person who tracks the market all the time," Jesse Lawrence, founder and chief executive of TicketIQ, said. "From a historical standpoint, it's totally mind-boggling."

The Cubs last won the World Series in 1908 and haven't played in the championship since 1945.

Some fans consider the team cursed given the near-misses and sometimes woeful seasons that have come over the past 71 years.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Cubs level World Series 1-1 against Indians

 

Series shifts to Wrigley Field

CLEVELAND -- Chicago's Jake Arrieta was almost unhittable and the middle of the Cubs lineup delivered at the plate in a 5-1 Game 2 win over the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday to level the best-of-seven World Series at a game each.

Dazzling Cy Young winner Arrieta used his repertoire of fastballs, cutters, sinkers and sliders to baffle the Indians as he threw 5-1/3 innings of no-hit ball before Jason Kipnis doubled with one out in the sixth.

Arrieta and relievers Mike Montgomery and Aroldis Chapman combined on a four-hitter on a chilly night on the shores of Lake Erie as the Cubs achieved a split of the opening two games in Cleveland before the next three are played in Chicago.

Anthony Rizzo, Ben Zobrist and Kyle Schwarber, the numbers three through five hitters in Chicago's lineup, combined for five hits, four runs scored and four runs batted in after the hard-hitting Cubs were shut out 6-0 in Game 1.

In contrast to the overpowering pitching from the Cubs, Cleveland used six relievers after removing starter Trevor Bauer in the fourth. The seven Indians pitchers issued a combined nine hits and eight walks.

After being shutout in the opener, the Cubs scored their first run of the World Series in the first inning.

Kris Bryant, who before the game received the National League Hank Aaron Award as most outstanding offensive player, stroked a one-out single and dashed around the bases to score when Anthony Rizzo followed with a double to right.

Chicago extended their lead to 2-0 after two outs in the third.

Rizzo fell behind 0-2 but worked a walk and Zobrist, who had three hits in Game One, singled up the middle.

Facing a 3-0 pitch from Bauer, slugger Kyle Schwarber was given the green light and drilled a single to center to score Rizzo to double Chicago's advantage.

The Cubs sent nine batters to the plate in a three-run fifth that broke the game open, with the middle of the lineup coming through again.

Rizzo walked and scored when Zobrist tripled into the right-field corner off Zach McAllister, and Schwarber singled home Zobrist. The Cubs tacked on another run when Bryan Shaw walked Addison Russell with the bases loaded to make it 5-0.

Arrieta gave up the only run for Cleveland in the sixth, when his wild pitch scored Kipnis from third. After Mike Napoli singled for the second hit off him, the right-hander was lifted.

Montgomery went two scoreless innings and fireballing Chapman got the last four outs to secure Chicago's first World Series win since 1945.

With the Fall Classic shifting to Wrigley Field, the Cubs on Friday will host their first World Series game in 71 years with Kyle Hendricks taking the mound against Cleveland's Josh Tomlin.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

World Series Cinderellas deserve to be in Fall Classic

Despite the Cinderella storylines about two of baseball's underdog franchises reaching the World Series, the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians fully deserve to be battling for Major League Baseball's title.

Chicago, despite their so-called "Curse of the Billy Goat", began the season as favorites to win baseball's top prize and the young Cubs proved they have come of age by winning a major league-leading 103 games.

The Indians, whose powerhouse lineup reached a pair of World Series in the 1990s, overcame numerous obstacles to climb to the top of the American League, relying on stellar starting pitching in the regular season and a killer bullpen in the playoffs.

The Cubs are warm betting favorites for the Series.

The winners of the best-of-seven starting in Cleveland on Tuesday will relieve their city of decades of frustration and set off a frenzied celebration.

The 112th World Series is sure to end one epic title drought, with the Indians' last triumph coming 68 years ago and the Cubs waiting a mind-boggling 108 seasons since their last championship.

The atmosphere should be electric in both Chicago, where the Wrigleyville neighborhood surrounding venerable Wrigley Field will be packed with title-hungry supporters, and at Progressive Field, where a fan has set an insistent tone with his rhythmic pounding on a bass drum from the outfield bleachers.

Chicago boasts a more potent lineup, having scored more runs (808-777) and hit more home runs (199-185) than the Indians in the regular season, though the Tribe have more variety in their game, with 134 stolen bases to 66 for the Cubbies.

Both clubs feature emerging young players, fueling the hope that more Fall Classics are in their future.

The Cubs have four standout players aged 24 or younger in their lineup in Kris Bryant, National League Championship Series co-most valuable player Javier Baez, versatile Willson Contreras and Addison Russell alongside 27-year-old slugger Anthony Rizzo.

Cleveland, whose 52-year major pro championship drought was ended earlier this year by LeBron James and the NBA Cavaliers, boast shortstop Francisco Lindor and third baseman Jose Ramirez.

The 22-year-old Lindor, who wears cleats with "Believeland" -- a rallying cry this year for Clevelanders -- written on the side, batted .301 with 15 home runs and 78 RBIs and played sensational defense as an All-Star in his first full season.

Ramirez, 24, hit .312 with 11 homers and 76 RBIs, primarily as a third baseman. He swiped 22 bases and Lindor stole 19.

Pitching has been a key ingredient for both clubs.

Chicago's veteran starting rotation of Cy Young winner Jake Arrieta, lefty Jon Lester, National League earned run average (ERA) leader Kyle Hendricks and righty John Lackey helped them lead the majors in ERA at 3.15.

Cleveland, led by 2014 Cy Young winner Corey Kluber, had the American League's second-best ERA of 3.84, in a league where more runs are scored due to use of a designated hitter for the pitcher.

The Indians were missing top offensive player Michael Brantley this season due to injury and resourceful manager Terry Francona has juggled his rotation with late season injuries to Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar and recently Trevor Bauer.

Still, Cleveland has posted a 1.77 ERA in the postseason with a heavy assist from relievers Andrew Miller and Cody Allen.

The Cubs added their own splendid finishing piece this season with a trade for fireballing closer Aroldis Chapman, who routinely breaks 100 mph (161 kph) with his fastball.

(Reporting by Larry Fine in New York; Editing by Frank Pingue/Andrew Both)

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Indians reach World Series by ousting Blue Jays

LOS ANGELES -- The Cleveland Indians are going to the World Series for the first time since 1997 after a 3-0 victory over the Blue Jays in Toronto on Wednesday.

The Indians won the best-of-seven American League Championship Series four games to one and will host game one of the World Series on Tuesday against either the Chicago Cubs or Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Cubs knotted the National League Championship Series at two games apiece with a 10-2 victory in Los Angeles.

Carlos Santana and Coco Crisp belted solo home runs for the Indians, who are seeking their first World Series title since 1948 and third overall.

They have lost the World Series in 1954, 1995 and 1997.

Rookie pitcher Ryan Merritt, making his post-season debut and his second start in five major-league appearances, allowed just two hits in 4 1/3 innings. The left-hander surrendered no walks and no runs, striking out three.

He needed only 31 pitches in retiring nine straight hitters over the first three innings.

"The emotions out there were kind of crazy at first," Merritt admitted. "But it settled down, just trusted myself, stayed within myself, tried not to let the crowd get to me too much, trusted my defense and just be myself out there."

Toronto starter Marco Estrada allowed five hits -- including both homers, and three runs in six innings.

Cleveland jumped to a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a two-out single from Francisco Lindor and a double by Mike Napoli. Toronto leftfielder Ezequiel Carrera mis-handled the ball coming off the wall so the run was scored as unearned.

Santana's second homer of the playoffs came on a 1-0 pitch with one out in the third, and Crisp hit his second homer of the post-season on a drive to right with two out in the fourth.

This year will mark the first time in Indians club history that they will serve as hosts in the opening game of the World Series.

On the same night, the Cleveland Cavaliers will raise their championship banner on the opening night of the new NBA season -- the first crown for any Cleveland sports team in 50 years.

"I can't wait to see what it's like in Cleveland, honestly," said Indians relief pitcher Andrew Miller, who was named Most Valuable Player of the series after producing 14 strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings while allowing two hits, no walks and no runs. "Obviously they got a taste of the basketball championship. The crowds for the playoff games at home have been special. It's going to be a lot of fun."

- Cubs bats come alive -

While the Indians' dry spell is the longest in the American League, the Cubs have endured a mythic drought since last winning the World Series in 1908.

The Cubs looked to be in trouble after two straight shutout losses to the Dodgers put them in a 2-1 hole.

But after 21 scoreless innings, they exploded for four runs in the fourth inning that included a two-run homer by Addison Russell.

The Dodgers' 20-year-old rookie Julio Urias, who became the youngest pitcher to start a post-season game, had held the Cubs without a hit through three innings.

But Ben Zobrist led off the fourth with a bunt single, and moved to second on a base hit from Javier Baez. Zobrist scored on a single by Willson Contreras as the throw from leftfielder Andrew Toles was off target.

Baez scored on Jason Heyward's ground out and then 22-year-old shortstop Russell, who was 1-for-24 this post-season, homered to right-center.

Urias would depart before the end of the fourth, charged with four runs on four hits with four strikeout.

Pedro Baez replaced him and gave up a leadoff homer to Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo in the fifth.

The Dodgers pulled back two runs in the bottom of the fifth.

But Rizzo singled in two runs as the Cubs continued to pour it on with five runs in the sixth, some sloppy Dodgers defense helping them stretch their lead to 10-2.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Indians on brink as Blue Jays downed

TORONTO, Canada -- The Cleveland Indians overcame the loss of starting pitcher Trevor Bauer to defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-2 and move to the brink of a place in Major League Baseball's World Series on Monday.

Bauer was removed with blood dripping from a finger wound after stitches to an injury sustained last week split open in the first inning at the Rogers Center.

But the injury did not prevent the Indians from powering to victory, giving them a 3-0 lead in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series and leaving them firmly on course for the World Series.

Veteran first baseman Mike Napoli was instrumental in the Cleveland win, doubling off Blue Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman to allow Carlos Santana to open the scoring at the top of the first before hitting a homer in the fourth.

"I've been struggling a little bit but I'm a grinder," Napoli said. "I knew I'd be back, just worked hard in the cage and it paid off tonight."

The Blue Jays hit back at the bottom of the second when Michael Saunders smashed a fly ball to left field off Danny Otero to make it 1-1.

Napoli restored Cleveland's advantage at the top of the fourth, smacking a fly ball to center field for another home run off Stroman to make it 2-1.

But Toronto hit back when Ezequiel Carrera scampered through for a triple off a sharp line drive. Carrera then raced over for the score after Ryan Goins ground out off Zach McAllister.

Cleveland regained the lead at the top of the sixth and once again Stroman was the victim, the Blue Jays pitcher going for his third home run of the night with Jason Kipnis hitting a line drive to right center field.

A Jose Ramirez single off Joe Biagini then allowed Napoli to come home for an additional run and make it 4-2 heading into the seventh inning.

Napoli paid tribute to the response of the Indians bullpen, forced to improvise after the early departure of Bauer.

"For our bullpen to step up like that today is the only reason we were able to win today," Napoli said. "For them to do it like that was unbelievable."

Team-mate Kipnis meanwhile revealed the team had been bracing for Bauer to break down at some point.

"Trevor got a little leak. A couple of us had seen the wound and knew it was a possibility. But we were still confident that we could do with it our bullpen," Kipnis said. "We're having a blast -- you can see the smiles in the team."

Game four in the series takes place in Toronto on Tuesday, with the Indians aiming for their first World Series appearance since 1997, when they were beaten by the Florida Marlins in a seven-game thriller.

The ALCS winner will face either the Chicago Cubs or the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Indians down Blue Jays in MLB series opener

Francisco Lindor belted a two-run home run to power the Cleveland Indians to a 2-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays in game one of their American League Championship Series.

The home win in Cleveland on Friday gives the Indians the upper hand in the best-of-seven series that will send the winner to Major League Baseball's World Series.

Starting pitcher Corey Kluber threw 6 1/3 innings for the Indians and combined with two relievers on the seven-hit shut-out.

Toronto's Marco Estrada pitched a complete game surrendering six hits with five strikeouts and one walk.

The walk put Jason Kipnis on base in the sixth. Estrada then delivered a 78 mph, 0-2 changeup to Lindor that the Indians' All-Star shortstop belted over the wall in center field.

"Oh, man, it was unreal," Lindor said, adding that he was expecting Toronto center fielder Kevin Pillar was going to make the catch.

"As soon as it went out I put my hands out and said, 'Thank God,'" Lindor said. "And I looked at the dugout and everybody was going insane."

Kluber threw 100 pitches, 71 of them strikes. He struck out six and walked two before departing with one out in the seventh.

- Stressful innings -

By then he'd had to work his way out of trouble several times. The Blue Jays put runners on base in each of the first three innings, only for Kluber to hold them to 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position through four frames.

"I think their whole lineup is dangerous," Kluber said of the Blue Jays. "I made some mistakes early on, and they were able to take advantage of them for base hits. But it's really just trying to stick with that same approach. Get ahead of them and put them in defensive counts.

"So, yeah, there were some stressful innings early on, but it wasn't like the wheels were spinning kind of thing. I was doing a good job of getting ahead in the count, I just didn't make good pitches once I was there, so it was just trying to fix that issue."

Kluber departed to chants of appreciation from the crowd, Andrew Miller taking over with one out in the seventh. Closing pitcher Cody Allen pitched the ninth to record the save.

Game two is on Saturday in Cleveland, when the Indians send Josh Tomlin to the mound and the Blue Jays give the ball to J.A. Happ.

The winner of the series will duel in the World Series against either the Chicago Cubs or Los Angeles Dodgers, who open the National League Championship Series on Saturday.

The Cubs, the best team in baseball in the regular season, are vying to end a World Series drought that stretches back to 1908.

But they're not the only club out to end a significant dry spell.

Cleveland haven't won the World Series since 1948, the Dodgers since 1988.

Of the four teams still standing, Toronto won it all most recently, taking back-to-back World Series titles in 1992 and 1993.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com