CHICAGO—Woeful hitting has the Chicago Cubs on the brink of an eighth consecutive World Series defeat to extend America’s longest sports title drought since their last championship in 1908.
Cleveland’s 7-2 romp over the Cubs at iconic Wrigley Field gave the Indians a 3-1 lead in Major League Baseball’s best-of-seven final and a chance to snap their own futility streak by winning Sunday for their first crown since 1948.
But Cubs manager Joe Maddon says he likes Chicago’s chances to make a rare comeback for the trophy if they can fight their way into a sixth game Tuesday at Cleveland.
“We have to have a one-game winning streak tomorrow, and if we do that, I really would be feeling pretty good about going back to Cleveland,” Maddon said.
“We just need that offensive epiphany somehow to get us pushing in the right direction. And if we do that, I really think, based on what they have left pitching-wise and what we have, going back over there, I kind of like our chances.”