Cleveland one win away: Your viewing guide to Game 5 of the World Series
The Cleveland Indians are on the cusp of their first World Series title since 1948.
With a 7-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs in Game 4 on Saturday night, the Indians took a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven World Series. They're one victory away from winning it all.
Cleveland's offense exploded for 10 hits, including big home runs from Jason Kipnis and Carlos Santana.
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Here's how to watch Game 5 on Sunday:
Time: 8:08 p.m. EST TV: Fox Streaming: Fox Sports Go and MLB.TV
Here are a few notes to get you ready for Game 5:
1. On the verge of history
A win on Sunday would give the Indians their first World Series title since 1948, which is the second-longest championship drought in baseball. Cleveland's last opportunity to clinch a World Series — in 1997 against the Florida Marlins — lasted four hours and ended with a Marlins' walk-off.
2. The Cubs' second shot at Bauer
Chicago's bats have gone ice-cold. They haven't scored more than two runs since Game 2, when starting pitching Trevor Bauer took the mound for Cleveland.
Bauer is scheduled to pitch on Sunday.
The Indians' strategy this postseason has been simple — get an early lead and use dominant pitching to keep it.
Bauer surrendered two runs in the first three innings of Game 2. He'll need to do better than that if Cleveland's game plan is going to work on Sunday.
3. Kipnis in good company
Jason Kipnis smacked a three-run home run in the seventh inning of Game 4. The last player to hit a three-run home run against the Cubs at Wrigley Field in the World Series?
Hall of Famer Babe Ruth.
4. Chicago hanging on
It's been 71 years since the Cubs have faced elimination in a World Series. In Game 6 of the 1945 World Series, Chicago rallied for an 8-7 victory over the Detroit Tigers in 12 innings at Wrigley Field.
The Cubs are still chasing their first championship since 1908, the longest drought in North American professional sports.
Their 3-1 series deficit is an uphill battle, but one Cubs ace Jon Lester is familiar with.
In the 2007 American League Championship Series, Lester and the Boston Red Sox were down three games to one against — guess who? — the Indians.
The Red Sox rallied and eventually won their second World Series title in four years.
Lester takes the hill on Sunday for the Cubs.
