Emma: World Series Spectacle At Wrigley Field Was Something To Behold
By Chris Emma--
CHICAGO (CBS) -- When the moment finally arrived and the gates to Wrigley Field opened for its first World Series in 71 years, fans from different backgrounds, generations and parts of the world flooded in all wearing that same look of uninhibited joy, overwhelmed by the occasion.
Cubs fans entered the Friendly Confines on Friday with that uncontrollable smile, as if tears of joy could come at any moment. The buzz inside the ballpark was something to behold. Wrigley for the World Series lived up to its billing as one of the greatest tickets imaginable.
With each pitch, it felt as if Wrigley stood still. Nothing else mattered but the pitcher and the batter. The ballpark was waiting for something -- anything -- to bring the Cubs the World Series victory that they've long awaited in the neighborhood. It wasn't meant to be, with the Indians sending thousands upon thousands home disappointed with a 1-0 victory over the Cubs that gave Cleveland a 2-1 series lead.
"As fun of a game as that was to be a part of, that was agonizing," Indians manager Terry Francona said.
Game 3 of the World Series had everything but a Cubs run.
Managers made their mark, with Francona and the Cubs' Joe Maddon both yanking their starters in the fifth inning of a scoreless game. A new-age approach prevailed, with the Cubs and Indians turning to their bullpens early and counting on the benches to come through. It was a reflection of this postseason, which has seen managers putting it all on the line in the middle innings.
Facing a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the top of the fifth, Cubs reliever Justin Grimm induced an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play. Grimm pumped his fist as Wrigley Field exploded.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Cubs had a chance to break a scoreless tie with Dexter Fowler, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo up. Indians star reliever Andrew Miller struck out the side.
Coco Crisp changed the game in the seventh inning with a single to right field. With the wind gusting out, it was a ball that hung in the air and landed just in front of Jorge Soler that was the difference in the game.
"It's rare that you see those conditions and it's a 1-0 baseball game," Maddon said.
Speaking after the loss, Maddon expressed his frustration with the Cubs' poor plate approaches. With the tying run aboard and two away in the eighth, Kris Bryant chased a pitch in the dirt. If he got a pitch in the air to left field, it could've easily flown out of the ballpark.
Anthony Rizzo started the ninth inning with a lead-off single. Needing a quality at-bat, Ben Zobrist -- arguably the Cubs' most fundamentally sound hitter -- swung at a pitch in the dirt. Javier Baez had the chance to win it with two runners in scoring position and two outs. He chased a high fastball to end the game.
It seemed for nine innings that the Cubs would somehow find a way once again for another remarkable win. Not on this Friday night.
"We'll learn from tonight and come back ready to work tomorrow," Maddon said.
With a tough defeat in hand, it's worth noting that the last time the Cubs came back from down 2-1 in a postseason series was the 2016 National League Championship Series. Of course, for the series to be tied, the Cubs will have to get their bats alive against Indians ace Corey Kluber and a mildly rested Miller, not to mention Bryan Shaw, Cody Allen and the relentless bullpen.
Nothing will come easy for the Cubs in search of a World Series championship. That's what this stage brings.
Wrigleyville was a party well before the sun rose on Friday morning. Murphy's Bleachers welcomed its first patrons of the day around 5 a.m. Vines on Clark had a line around the block by 10 a.m.
Did anybody in Chicago work on Friday?
All excitement turned into nerves once Kyle Hendricks threw his first pitch. Wrigley waited, waited and waited for for the Cubs to come through as they have so many times before -- for Bryant, Rizzo, Zobrist, Baez, somebody to deliver that magical World Series moment.
Late Friday, those gates to Wrigley bid farewell to a dejected fan base.
They'll hold out hope for better come Game 4 on Saturday, when hope will still spring eternal in Wrigleyville.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670 and like his Facebook page.
