Levine: Cubs' Approach To Josh Tomlin Pays Dividends In Game 6 Win

By Bruce Levine--

CLEVELAND (CBS) -- The second time around, the Cubs were ready for Indians right-hander Josh Tomlin.

Four days days after being stymied by Tomlin in Game 3, the Cubs took a wait-and-react approach to his breaking ball. The results were immediate, as Chicago plated three runs in the first inning and four more in the third of an eventual 9-3 win in Game 6 at Cleveland on Tuesday, forcing a winner-take-all Game 7 of the World Series back at Progressive Field on Wednesday.

Third baseman Kris Byrant gave the Cubs an early lead once again, hitting a 433-foot solo homer to left field off Tomlin with two outs in the first inning. That took the air out of the crowd of 38,116, and the blast came on an 0-2 curveball that stayed up.

"That is my favorite pitch to hit -- the hanging curve ball," Bryant said. "Usually in that case if you put your usual swing on it and it's hanging up there, there's a good chance it's going to go pretty far."

Addison Russell took over from there. He had a two-run double in the first inning and a grand slam in the third to give the Cubs a 7-0 lead and himself six RBIs, which tied a single-game World Series record.

Tomlin allowed six runs, all earned, in 2 1/3 innings on six hits and a walk.

Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta was nails, surrendering just runs in 5 2/3 innings and striking out nine. It was his second win of the series, as he also earned the victory in Game 2.

"After Kris put us up early and being up 7-0 after three, I knew that is all we were going to need," Arrieta said. "Pretty much all around, all across the order, everybody contributed. That is why we played so well."

Russell's grand slam was a first in the World Series in franchise history.

"During the regular season, being a Cub, you are forced to deliver," Russell said. "So having that practice throughout the whole season, you finally get to the big moment in the World Series. I wouldn't say it's bread and butter, but you definitely learn to control those feelings. You are able to concentrate on seeing the ball, pitch counts and all that stuff you must be able to do."

Cubs manager Joe Maddon pulled all the strings, bringing on closer Aroldis Chapman with two outs in the seventh inning to get the Cubs out of a jam while they led 7-2. Chapman threw 1 1/3 scoreless innings.

"I was good with Joe using me any way he wanted to," Chapman said through a team translator. "I will still be ready for tomorrow. If I wake up tomorrow and the arm is different, I will be honest about it. Otherwise we are in the last game of the season, I will be available."

The last time a team rallied from a 3-1 deficit -- as the Cubs are trying to do -- was in 1985, when the Kansas City Royals accomplished the feat. The Cubs will also be looking to break their 108-year championship drought.

"This is a matter of going out and playing one more game," said left-hander Jon Lester, who pronounced himself ready to pitch in relief on just two days rest. "It doesn't matter if you're uncomfortable or not. We all have to be ready and figure it out."

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.