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Chicago Cubs defeat Cleveland Indians 9-3 in Game 6, forcing Game 7

CLEVELAND — The Chicago Cubs hung on to extend the 2016 baseball season just one more night. Wednesday night’s Game 7 can be seen on FOX 61 at 8 p.m. The ...

CLEVELAND — The Chicago Cubs hung on to extend the 2016 baseball season just one more night. Wednesday night’s Game 7 can be seen on FOX 61 at 8 p.m.

The Cubs came out strong in the beginning, scoring 3 runs in the first inning to put up a 3-0 score. The team put up another 4 runs in the third inning as Addison Russell hit a grand slam and drove in a record-tying six runs, all before Cleveland even scored one. Russell’s slam put him tied with Albert Pujols, Hideki Matsui and Bobby Richardson for most RBIs in a Series game.

The home team’s first run came in inning 4.

The Cubs haven’t won a series since 1908, and the Indians haven’t won since 1948.

The Cubs’ win forces a Game 7, which you can watch live on FOX 61 on Wednesday starting at 8:08 p.m.

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Here’s a timeline of Game 6 of the World Series between the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians:
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11:40 p.m.

The Chicago Cubs have closed out a 9-3 victory over the Indians to force the World Series to Game 7 on Wednesday night in Cleveland.

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11:30 p.m.

With the Cubs leading 9-2, closer Aroldis Chapman has been removed after issuing a leadoff walk in the ninth inning. He got four outs and threw 20 pitches.

The hard-throwing lefty has fired 62 pitches in the past three days. In Game 5 on Sunday night, he entered in the seventh inning for the first time since 2012 and pitched a career-high 2 2/3 innings to close out a 3-2 victory. In that one, Chapman fired 15 of his 42 pitches at 100 mph or faster.

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11:20 p.m.

Anthony Rizzo’s two-run homer in the top of the ninth inning has extended Chicago’s lead to 9-2.

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11:15 p.m.

Aroldis Chapman has worked a scoreless eighth inning to preserve Chicago’s 7-2 lead. He got pinch-hitter Yan Gomes to ground into an inning-ending double play with the help of a difficult turn by slick-fielding second baseman Javier Baez.

Looking ahead to a potential Game 7 on Wednesday night, that could be crucial for the Cubs because it limited the number of pitches Chapman needed to throw.

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11:05 p.m.

Cubs closer Aroldis Chapman has entered in the seventh inning for the second consecutive game.

With his team leading 7-2, Chicago manager Joe Maddon summoned Chapman with two runners on and two outs. The hard-throwing lefty got Francisco Lindor to hit a bouncer to first and raced to cover the bag.

Lindor initially was called safe on a close play, but the ruling was overturned after a replay review. Chapman came up limping a bit, but appeared to be OK and smiled as he playfully tossed the ball to Lindor.

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10:35 p.m.

Jake Arrieta has done his part to force a Game 7.

The right-hander allowed two runs and three hits in 5 2/3 innings, striking out nine with three walks as the Chicago Cubs took a 7-2 lead over Cleveland into the seventh inning of Game 6.

Arrieta gave up an RBI single to Mike Napoli in the third and a solo home run to Jason Kipnis in the fifth. The 2015 NL Cy Young Award winner also wriggled out of a jam in the fourth when he struck out Tyler Naquin with the bases loaded.

Kipnis went 3 for 5 against Arrieta in his two World Series starts. The rest of the Indians were 2 for 34.

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10:05 p.m.

Jason Kipnis is doing what he can to bring the Cleveland Indians back.

The All-Star second baseman hit his second home run of the World Series in the fifth inning against Chicago Cubs starter Jake Arrieta, pulling the Indians to 7-2. Kipnis doubled and scored in the third for Cleveland’s first run, and his shot over the wall in left gave Progressive Field a jolt.

Still, the Indians have their work cut out. Arrieta went 15-0 in the regular season when given at least six runs of support.

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9:55 p.m.

LeBron James and his teammates on the NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers have arrived at the ballpark and are sitting in a suite. They played a 6 p.m. game at Quicken Loans Arena just across the plaza, beating the Rockets 128-120.

“If they win it, we’ve got to come back and win it again, too,” Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said about the Indians.

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9:40 p.m.

The Indians are on the board but still trail 7-1.

Jason Kipnis doubled off the left-center wall leading off the fourth inning for Cleveland’s first hit against Jake Arrieta. One out later, Kipnis scored on Mike Napoli’s single.

Cleveland had a chance for more, but right fielder Jason Heyward made a tough catch to rob Jose Ramirez of a hit, and Arrieta struck out rookie Tyler Naquin with the bases loaded to end the inning.

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9:15 p.m.

Addison Russell is having himself a night in Game 6.

The 22-year-old shortstop has six RBIs through three innings, including a grand slam off Cleveland reliever Dan Otero that gave the Chicago Cubs a commanding 7-0 lead.

The six RBIs for Russell have tied the record for a World Series game.

Aided by an Indians misplay in the outfield, Russell hit a two-run double off starter Josh Tomlin in the first to help the Cubs jump in front 3-0. Russell then drove Otero’s third pitch to center field for the first World Series grand slam since Paul Konerko connected for the Chicago White Sox in 2005 (Game 2).

It was the first grand slam by a Cubs player in the World Series and the first given up by an Indians pitcher.

Mickey Mantle was the only player younger than Russell to hit a grand slam in the World Series.

The Cubs are looking to become the first team since the 1979 Pittsburgh Pirates to rally from a 3-1 Series deficit by winning the final two games on the road.

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8:55 p.m.

Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta is cruising so far.

Staked to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first, Arrieta has struck out four and allowed just a walk to Francisco Lindor through two innings as Chicago tries to force a Game 7.

Arrieta received the best run support of any National League pitcher this season. The Cubs averaged 6.8 runs during his 31 starts. When they scored at least three, Arrieta was 18-4.

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8:20 p.m.

The Cubs wasted little time getting to Cleveland starter Josh Tomlin.

Chicago touched up Tomlin for three runs in the first inning, all with two outs. Kris Bryant hit a 433-foot homer to left field, putting Chicago up 1-0. It was the first home run off Tomlin this year on an 0-2 count.

Bryant also homered during Game 5 in Chicago on Sunday night to help the Cubs stave off elimination.

Anthony Rizzo and Ben Zobrist followed with singles and both came home on Addison Russell’s pop-fly double to right-center. The ball fell between center fielder Tyler Naquin and right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall when they failed to communicate properly.

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