CLEVELAND (AP) The Latest on Game 6 of the World Series between the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians (all times local):
5:25 p.m.
Tuesday night isn’t the first time Indians manager Terry Francona has been looking for a little bit of magic in Game 6 of a World Series.
Francona joked that he once won a stash of cash when Boston Red Sox catcher Carlton Fisk hit his famous home run off the foul pole in the 12th inning of Game 6 of the 1975 World Series to give the Red Sox a 7-6 win over the Cincinnati Reds, forcing a Game 7.
Francona says that when the ball hit the foul pole, he ”went bananas.” When his father mentioned that he didn’t know his son was a Red Sox fan, Francona replied: ”I’m not. I had the (final score) at school. I won $100.”
—
4:50 p.m.
Indians manager Terry Francona could run for mayor and win. Not everyone in Cleveland knows his face, though.
Before heading to Progressive Field earlier than usual on game day, Francona, who typically rides a scooter to the ballpark, was helping one of the employees at the hotel where he stays while in Cleveland. The worker had no idea she was talking to someone famous.
”She said: `Man, this place is crazy. Who do you want to win?”’ Francona said.
He said he looked at her with a straight face and said, ”I’ll go with the Indians.”
Francona will win his third World Series title if the Indians can finish off the Chicago Cubs. He captured two championships with Boston, helping the Red Sox end an 86-year Series drought in 2004.
—
3:55 p.m.
Carlos Santana is back at the top of Cleveland’s lineup.
After playing two games in left field and one at first in Chicago, Santana is batting first as the designated hitter. Back home at Progressive Field, the Indians return to playing under American League rules.
Manager Terry Francona also put Game 3 hero Coco Crisp in left field and moved Tyler Naquin to center, bumping Rajai Davis out of the lineup. Crisp’s pinch-hit RBI provided the only run in Cleveland’s 1-0 win in Game 3. His only start of the series came in Game 2 against Chicago’s Jake Arrieta, who will take the mound for the Cubs Tuesday night.
Cleveland right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall will bat sixth after dealing with some stomach discomfort before Game 5 on Sunday in Chicago.
—
3:30 p.m.
Kyle Schwarber is batting second for the Chicago Cubs in Game 6 of the World Series.
Schwarber injured a knee on April 7, had surgery to repair torn ligaments and was out until the Series opener. He batted fifth as the designated hitter in the first two games against Cleveland. Because he does not have medical clearance to play the field, he was limited to pinch hitting in the three games at Chicago. Overall, he is 3 for 8 in the Series with a double, two walks and two RBIs.
Center fielder Dexter Fowler remains in the leadoff spot, followed by Schwarber at DH, third baseman Kris Bryant, first baseman Anthony Rizzo, left fielder Ben Zobrist, shortstop Addison Russell, catcher Willson Contreras, right fielder Jayson Heyward and second baseman Javier Baez. Game 2 winner Jake Arrieta is on the mound.
Heyward is making his third straight start after a four-game benching. He was 2 for 31 (.033) with one RBI in the postseason before getting two hits in Game 3. He is 3 for 11 in the Series.
—
2:35 p.m.
Cubs manager Joe Maddon can ditch the stocking cap for Game 6. The World Series has heated up.
The temperature is expected to be in the 70s when the Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs play Tuesday night at Progressive Field, which was bathed in sunshine in the hours leading up to first pitch.
For Game 5 at Chicago’s Wrigley Field, Maddon donned a blue ski cap as the Cubs rallied on a chilly night to win 3-2 and extend their season. It was 43 degrees at first pitch that night and whipping winds made it feel much colder.
The Indians will gladly take the warm weather. Their season opener on April 4 at Progressive Field against the Boston Red Sox was postponed by snow.
Seven months later, on Nov. 1, Cleveland is enjoying unusually warm autumn weather.
25% Bonus via Western Union
