MLB Exclusive

No American League team has waited longer to win a World Series than the Cleveland Indians. In fact, only one team has waited longer, and that’s the Chicago Cubs.

The Indians last won baseball’s championship in 1948; the Cubs in 1908. The Indians haven’t got this far since 1997. They set themselves on the path to change their history on Wednesday night when they defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 3-0 to win the best-of-seven American League Championship Series in five games.

When these things happen, they spawn great stories. In this one, a rookie pitcher with but one career start got to be at least a semi-hero. Ryan Merritt pitched 4 1/3 innings – not enough to get the win – but he gave up no runs, only two hits, walked none and struck out three. The Indians then went to their bullpen and three relievers combined to allow only four more hits.

This is the sixth AL pennant for the Indians and a shot at their third world championship (they also won in 1920).

The Cubs, who finally broke out of their batting slump, hammered the Los Angeles Dodgers 10-2 to set up Game 5 on Thursday night. They are even at two games apiece, with Game 6 and Game 7 (if necessary) at Wrigley Field.

With an NBA championship just behind it, Cleveland is in the mood to win (and to forget the ridiculous Browns, who are 0-6). Chicago? One can only imagine what will happen if the Cubs reach the World Series as well.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman