CLEVELAND -- The wait 'til next year is finally over. The Chicago Cubs are World Series champions.
Ending more than a century of flops, futility and frustration, the Cubs won their first title since 1908, outlasting the Cleveland Indians 8-7 in 10 innings of a Game 7 thriller late Wednesday.
"It happened. It happened. Chicago, it happened," first baseman Anthony Rizzo said. "We did it. We're world champions. I tell ya, we're world champions. I can't believe it."
Lovable losers for generations, the Cubs nearly let this one get away too. All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman blew a three-run lead with two outs in the eighth when Rajai Davis hit a tying home run.
But the Cubs, after tormenting their fans one more time, came right back after a 17-minute rain delay before the top of the 10th.
Ben Zobrist hit an RBI double and Miguel Montero singled home a run to make it 8-6. Davis then delivered an RBI single with two outs in the bottom half of the 10th, but Mike Montgomery closed it out -- and the celebration was on.
Blue-clad Cubs fans who traveled from Wrigley Field nearly filled the entire lower deck behind the Chicago dugout at Progressive Field, singing "Go! Cubs! Go!"
Manager Joe Maddon's team halted the longest title drought in baseball, becoming the first club to overcome a 3-1 Series deficit since the 1985 Kansas City Royals.
Cleveland was trying to win its first crown since 1948, but manager Terry Francona's club lost the last two games of the Series at home.
World Series favorites since spring training, Chicago led the majors with 103 wins this season.
The Cubs then ended more than a century of misery for their loyal fans -- barely. Third baseman Kris Bryant, one of Chicago's young stars, began smiling even before fielding a grounder by Michael Martinez and throwing it across to Rizzo for the final out.
Zobrist was chosen as the World Series MVP, a year after he helped the Royals win the championship.
Zobrist was among the players brought to the Cubs by Theo Epstein, the baseball guru added another crown to his collection. He also assembled the Red Sox team that broke Boston's 86-year drought with the 2004 championship.
From Curse of the Bambino to the Billy Goat Curse, he ended another jinx.
The Indians, meanwhile, added more heartbreak. In their previous World Series appearance, they were a double-play grounder from winning the title before losing Game 7 in 11 innings to the Marlins.
"It's going to hurt. It hurts because we care, but they need to walk with their head held high because they left nothing on the field," Francona said.
After defeating San Francisco and the Los Angeles Dodgers in the playoffs, Chicago became the first team to earn a title by winning Games 6 and 7 on the road since the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates.
While Cubs fans hugged with delight, there was only despair for the Indians, who now have gone longer than anyone without a crown.
Dexter Fowler homered on Corey Kluber's fourth pitch of the game, 23-year-old Javier Baez and 39-year-old David Ross also went deep for the Cubs, who led 5-1 in the fifth inning and 6-3 in the eighth.
Chapman wound up with the win and Montgomery got one out for his first save in the majors.
Bryan Shaw, who gave up a leadoff single to Kyle Schwarber in the 10th, took the loss.
It was just the fourth time that a Game 7 went to extra innings, and the rain delayed play until 12:11 a.m. in a still-packed ballpark.
Albert Almora Jr., pinch-running for Schwarber, alertly took second on Bryant's long fly to center. Rizzo was intentionally walked and Zobrist slapped an opposite-field double past a diving third baseman Jose Ramirez. Montero singled to make it a two-run lead.
Then in the bottom half, Carl Edwards Jr. struck out Mike Napoli, Ramirez grounded out, Brandon Guyer walked and Davis hit an RBI single. Montgomery took over, and helped set off a wild celebration on Chicago's North Side.
Cubs jumped on each other between the mound and second base, and their fans in the stands kept cheering.
Twenty-one other teams had won the World Series since Cubs last were champions. They reached the top again on the 39,466th day after Orval Overall's three-hit shutout won the 1908 finale at Detroit in a game that took 1:24. At the time, Theodore Roosevelt was president, New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska and Hawaii were not yet states, and the first Ford Model T car was two weeks old.
The Cubs were last champions when Joe Tinker, Johnny Evers and Frank Chance won consecutive titles in 1907-08, until now the only ones in team history. The Cubbies had not even reached the Series since 1945.
This one was for Ernie Banks, Ferguson Jenkins, Ron Santo and Billy Williams, who never reached the postseason.
For Gabby Hartnett, Ryne Sandberg and Greg Maddux, whose October runs fell short.
For Lee Elia and the "nickle-dime people" who spent so many wind-swept afternoons in the Friendly Confines watching loss after loss.
For Bill Veeck, who planted ivy vines against Wrigley Field's outfield walls.
For William Sianis, the Billy Goat Tavern owner said to have proclaimed when he was asked to leave Wrigley with his pet during the `45 Series: "Them Cubs, they ain't gonna win no more."
For Steve Bartman, whose life was upended when he tried to catch a foul ball as the Cubs came apart in the 2003 playoffs.
And for Harry Caray, who promised viewers after the 1991 finale that "sure as God made green apples, someday the Chicago Cubs are going to be in the World Series."
Maddon, hired before the 2015 season, won his first Series title after establishing a loose clubhouse that featured at times Warren the pink flamingo, Simon the magician and the motto: "Try not to suck."
Thousands of blue-clad Cubs fans found a way to get tickets and appeared to number nearly half the crowd of 38,104 at Progressive Field. They rocked the joint when Fowler put Chicago ahead with the first leadoff home run in a decisive Game 7.
PEN PALS
This was the first World Series in which no starting pitcher got at least one out in the seventh inning, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The only other in which no starter finished at least seven innings was in 2002, when San Francisco's Russ Ortiz threw 6 1/3 innings in Game 6.
UP NEXT
Cleveland's spring training opener is scheduled for Feb. 26 against the Cubs in Mesa, Arizona.



Final in 10
Playoff Series: Game 7 of 7









8:00PM,EDT,November 2,2016
Progressive Field, Cleveland, Ohio 

12345678910 R H E
CHC 1002210002 8 13 3
CLE 0010200301 7 11 1
W: A. Chapman (1-0)
L: B. Shaw (0-1)
S: M. Montgomery (1)







View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-PitchInning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10
Chicago - Top of 1stSCORE
Corey Kluber pitching for ClevelandCHCCLE
Fowler homered to center (410 feet).10
Schwarber reached on infield single to shortstop.10
Bryant flied out to right.10
Rizzo flied out to center.10
Schwarber stole second.10
Zobrist flied out to right.10
1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors
Cleveland - Bottom of 1stSCORE
Kyle Hendricks pitching for ChicagoCHCCLE
Santana lined out to right.10
Kipnis struck out swinging.10
Lindor safe at first on throwing error by second baseman Báez.10
Napoli grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Lindor out at second.10
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Errors
Chicago - Top of 2ndSCORE
Corey Kluber pitching for ClevelandCHCCLE
Russell popped out to shortstop.10
Contreras fouled out to right.10
Heyward popped out to shortstop.10
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Cleveland - Bottom of 2ndSCORE
Kyle Hendricks pitching for ChicagoCHCCLE
Ramírez reached on infield single to shortstop.10
Ramírez picked off first.10
Chisenhall singled to shallow left.10
Davis grounded into double play, third to second to first, Chisenhall out at second.10
0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors
Chicago - Top of 3rdSCORE
Corey Kluber pitching for ClevelandCHCCLE
Báez flied out to left.10
Fowler lined out to right.10
Schwarber singled to right, Schwarber out stretching at second.10
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
Cleveland - Bottom of 3rdSCORE
Kyle Hendricks pitching for ChicagoCHCCLE
Crisp doubled to left.10
Pérez sacrificed to first, Crisp to third.10
Santana singled to right, Crisp scored.11
Kipnis grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Santana safe at second on missed catch error by second baseman Báez.11
Lindor lined out to left.11
Napoli lined out to third.11
1 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors
Chicago - Top of 4thSCORE
Corey Kluber pitching for ClevelandCHCCLE
Bryant singled to left.11
Rizzo hit by pitch, Bryant to second.11
Zobrist grounded into fielder's choice to first, Rizzo out at second, Bryant to third.11
Russell hit sacrifice fly to center, Bryant scored, Zobrist to second.21
Contreras doubled to deep center, Zobrist scored.31
Heyward popped out to shortstop.31
2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors
Cleveland - Bottom of 4thSCORE
Kyle Hendricks pitching for ChicagoCHCCLE
Ramírez grounded out to first.31
Chisenhall flied out to left.31
Davis lined out to right.31
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Errors
Chicago - Top of 5thSCORE
Corey Kluber pitching for ClevelandCHCCLE
Báez homered to right center (408 feet).41
Miller relieved Kluber.41
Fowler singled to left.41
Schwarber grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Fowler out at second.41
Bryant walked.41
Rizzo singled to right, Bryant scored, Rizzo to second advancing on throw.51
Zobrist lined out to center.51
2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors
Cleveland - Bottom of 5thSCORE
Kyle Hendricks pitching for ChicagoCHCCLE
Crisp grounded out to second.51
Pérez struck out looking.51
Santana walked.51
Ross catching.51
Lester relieved Hendricks.51
Kipnis reached on infield single to catcher, Santana to second, Santana to third, Kipnis to second on throwing error by catcher Ross.51
Kipnis and Santana scored on Lester's wild pitch.53
Lindor struck out swinging.53
2 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors
Chicago - Top of 6thSCORE
Andrew Miller pitching for ClevelandCHCCLE
Russell fouled out to first.53
Ross homered to center (406 feet).63
Heyward grounded out to first.63
Báez struck out swinging.63
1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
Cleveland - Bottom of 6thSCORE
Jon Lester pitching for ChicagoCHCCLE
Napoli struck out swinging.63
Ramírez grounded out to shortstop.63
Guyer hit for Chisenhall.63
Guyer singled to left.63
Davis grounded out to second.63
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
Chicago - Top of 7thSCORE
Andrew Miller pitching for ClevelandCHCCLE
Guyer in right field.63
Fowler singled to right.63
Schwarber lined out to left.63
Allen relieved Miller.63
Bryant struck out swinging. Fowler caught stealing second, catcher to second.63
0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors
Cleveland - Bottom of 7thSCORE
Jon Lester pitching for ChicagoCHCCLE
Crisp flied out to left.63
Pérez walked.63
Naquin ran for Pérez.63
Santana grounded out to pitcher, Naquin to second.63
Kipnis struck out swinging.63
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Chicago - Top of 8thSCORE
Cody Allen pitching for ClevelandCHCCLE
Gomes catching.63
Rizzo struck out swinging.63
Zobrist grounded out to first.63
Russell popped out to first.63
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Cleveland - Bottom of 8thSCORE
Jon Lester pitching for ChicagoCHCCLE
Lindor grounded out to shortstop.63
Napoli struck out looking.63
Ramírez reached on infield single to second.63
Chapman relieved Lester.63
Guyer doubled to right center, Ramírez scored.64
Davis homered to left (364 feet), Guyer scored.66
Crisp singled to left.66
Gomes struck out swinging.66
3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors
Chicago - Top of 9thSCORE
Cody Allen pitching for ClevelandCHCCLE
Ross walked.66
Coghlan ran for Ross.66
Heyward grounded into fielder's choice to second, Coghlan out at second.66
Shaw relieved Allen.66
Heyward stole second, Heyward safe at third on throwing error by catcher Gomes.66
Guyer in left field.66
Martínez in right field.66
Báez struck out bunting foul.66
Fowler grounded out to shortstop.66
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 1 Errors
Cleveland - Bottom of 9thSCORE
Aroldis Chapman pitching for ChicagoCHCCLE
Montero catching.66
Santana flied out to left.66
Kipnis struck out swinging.66
Lindor flied out to right.66
0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors
Chicago - Top of 10thSCORE
Bryan Shaw pitching for ClevelandCHCCLE
Schwarber singled to right.66
Almora Jr. ran for Schwarber.66
Bryant flied out to center, Almora Jr. to second.66
Rizzo intentionally walked.66
Zobrist doubled to left, Almora Jr. scored, Rizzo to third.76
Russell intentionally walked.76
Montero singled to left, Rizzo scored, Zobrist to third, Russell to second.86
Bauer relieved Shaw.86
Heyward struck out swinging.86
Báez flied out to center.86
2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors
Cleveland - Bottom of 10thSCORE
Carl Edwards pitching for ChicagoCHCCLE
Edwards Jr. relieved Chapman.86
Napoli struck out swinging.86
Ramírez grounded out to shortstop.86
Guyer walked.86
Guyer to second on fielder's indifference.86
Davis singled to center, Guyer scored.87
Montgomery relieved Edwards Jr..87
Martínez grounded out to third.87
1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors




Chicago Cubs

HittersABRHRBIBBSO#PAVGOBPSLG
Fowler CF51310014.233.258.467
Schwarber DH50300014.412.500.471
Almora Jr. PR-DH
0100000.000.000.000
Bryant 3B42101134.269.387.500
Rizzo 1B31111117.360.484.600
Zobrist LF51110015.357.419.500
Russell SS30011018.222.267.370
Contreras C2011007.105.227.211
Ross C
1111109.400.4291.000
0000000.000.000.000
1011003.250.250.250
Heyward RF50000121.150.150.150
Báez 2B51110219.167.167.267
Totals39813845171   
BATTING
2B: Contreras (2, Kluber); Zobrist (2, Shaw)
HR: Fowler (2, 1st inning off Kluber 0 on, 0 Out); Báez (1, 5th inning off Kluber 0 on, 0 Out); Ross (1, 6th inning off Miller 0 on, 1 Out)
RBI: Fowler (2), Russell (9), Contreras (1), Báez (1), Rizzo (5), Ross (2), Zobrist (2), Montero (1)
SF: Russell
2-out RBI: Contreras, Rizzo
GIDP: Schwarber
Cubs RISP: 3-11 (Montero 1-1, Báez 0-2, Fowler 0-1, Zobrist 1-4, Contreras 1-1, Heyward 0-2)
Team LOB: 7
BASERUNNING
SB: Schwarber (1, 2nd base off Kluber/Pérez); Heyward (4, 2nd base off Shaw/Gomes)
CS: Fowler (1, 2nd base by Allen/Pérez)
FIELDING
E: Báez 2 (2, catch, throw); Ross (1, throw)
DP: 1 (Bryant-Báez-Rizzo).

Game Notes

The game was delayed by rain for 17 minutes between the 9th and 10th inning.

Game Information

StadiumProgressive Field, Cleveland, OH
Attendance38,104 (103.4% full) - % is based on regular season capacity
Game Time4:28
Weather69 degrees, partly cloudy
Wind7 mph
UmpiresHome Plate - Sam Holbrook, First Base - Chris Guccione, Second Base - John Hirschbeck, Third Base - Marvin Hudson, Left Field - Tony Randazzo, Right Field - Joe West