CHICAGO — There might be some question whether the Cubs’ season will be deemed a success if they don’t win the World Series.
But there was no question about their sense of urgency Sunday night as the Cubs avoided elimination when they held on for a tense 3-2 victory over the Indians in Game 5 of the World Series before a tense crowd of 41,711 at Wrigley Field.
Closer Aroldis Chapman — making his first appearance in the seventh inning since May 17, 2012 — pitched out of trouble in the seventh and eighth innings and threw a perfect ninth to send the Series back to Cleveland for Game 6 tonight.
Monday’s travel day gave Chapman a chance to rest his prized left arm and the Cubs an opportunity to reassess their options as they try to overcome a 3-2 deficit in this best-of-seven series.
The Cubs took some small but effective steps in snapping out of their offensive rut with a three-run fourth that included four consecutive hits for the first time in the Series. Kris Bryant fueled the rally when he led off with a home run.
Nevertheless, manager Joe Maddon — who staunchly maintains the Cubs season is a success regardless of the Series outcome — wasn’t taking any chances when pulled Jon Lester after six innings despite the left-hander limiting the Indians to four hits in a 90-pitch outing.
And Maddon wasn’t timid about summoning Chapman with one out in the seventh after Carl Edwards Jr. allowed a hit to Mike Napoli, and fellow rookie Willson Contreras was charged with a passed ball.
The crowd held its breath as Chapman struck out Jose Ramirez, hit Brandon Guyer with a pitch and induced Roberto Perez to ground to second with the tying and go-ahead runs on base to end the threat.
In the eighth, Chapman was late in covering first base and that resulted in a one-out hit for Rajai Davis, who stole second and third around a foul out. But Chapman struck out Francisco Lindor to end the threat.
For the first time in the Series, the Cubs overcame a deficit. Bryant’s homer barely cleared the wall in left-center, but it was reminiscent of many of his extra-base hits that made him a National League most valuable player candidate.
A 10 mph wind and the cold air challenged many deep drives. Anthony Rizzo initially didn’t burst out of the batter’s box on a drive that sailed over the head of right fielder Guyer for a double and scored on Addison Russell’s infield hit.
Catcher David Ross, starting his final game at Wrigley Field, capped the rally with a sacrifice fly and became the first player to collect an RBI in a World Series game for the Red Sox and Cubs, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
The Cubs provided some amusement on three foul pops in the first four innings.
A Carlos Santana foul pop grazed off the glove of Ross near the Indians’ dugout, but Rizzo was in position to make the catch for the second out of the second.
In the third, right fielder Jason Heyward used his left hand to help elevate him in anticipation of a Bauer foul ball arriving in the stands, but the wind appeared to blow the ball back. Fortunately for Heyward, his wingspan was long enough to reach back and make the catch.
With two out in the fourth, Ross moved about 10 feet in front of the Indians’ dugout to catch Napoli’s pop, only to be knocked off his feet by Rizzo after making the catch.
After the Cubs concluded their 103-win regular season, several veterans expressed relief to start the postseason and vowed their season wouldn’t be successful unless they won the Series.
But before Sunday’s game, Maddon differed with that opinion.
“You roll the tape back where we’ve been the last several years, and what we’ve done last year and this year, I really anticipate we’ll be able to finish this off,” Maddon said.
“If you don’t, then you still look at the stepping stone, the building blocks to get to this point. You can’t tell me last year wasn’t successful just getting to the (National League) Championship Series. And if this wasn’t called a playoff, then you can’t tell me this year wasn’t successful getting to the World Series.
“I just don’t buy that kind of logic.”
