Ross, Lester Lead Cubs in Game 5 Win

David Ross, Jon Lester and the rest of the Chicago aren’t done just yet.

Ross played the lead role as the Cubs survived another close game in the World Series, outdoing the Indians 3-2 in Game 5 on Sunday. The 39-year-old catcher had a brilliant night behind the plate and provided a clutch sacrifice fly that helped Chicago to its first Series win at Wrigley Field in 71 years.

As he concludes his 15th season, young teammates nicknamed Ross “Grandpa Rossy”. He plans to step down after the season.

“I’ve had a storybook year, honestly,” Ross said. “There are so many things I can talk about that have happened to me over this year. That’s just another cool one to get the sac fly that puts us ahead and we hold on.”

Pearl Jam front man Eddie Vedder even called him out after devoting “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” to Ross during the seventh-inning stint of his final home start. “We love you Rossy,” Vedder said as the crowd roared. “Let’s take this show to Cleveland!”

Ross said excitedly that everybody was looking at him after Eddie Vedder dedicated the whole seventh-inning stretch to him. “I’m like, my mind’s blown, I’m thinking about being out of the game and he’s a quality individual. He’s just a good person, rock star, everybody knows who Eddie Vedder is. He says my name, it’s a huge compliment.”

Ross and his close pal Lester came together to slow Cleveland’s attack after Saturday night’s 7-2 victory by the Indians. Lester pitched six solid innings as he rebounded from a mediocre outing in the Series opener. He improved to 3-1 with a 1.93 ERA in five postseason starts this year.

Ross was 3-0 in three career starts in the Fall Classic prior to losing Game 1 against Cleveland when he was pilfered for three runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Game 5 for Ross involved two exploits in foul territory. He was lucky first baseman Anthony Rizzo was there for a juggling catch when a foul pop got off his glove near the railing of the visitors’ dugout. The catcher also bumped into Rizzo on a foul popup in the fourth and held on for the out.

But Ross did his best work when he settled behind the plate. He put together a solid job of mounting close called third strikes to Brandon Guyer in the fifth and Jason Kipnis in the sixth. Moreover, he cut down Francisco Lindor who tried to steal second for the final out of the inning after Kipnis’ strikeout.

Ross’ defensive work was especially crucial with Lester having his typical struggles with runners on the basepaths.

The Cubs fell behind 1-0 before scoring three times in the fourth. Ross topped the rally with a sac fly to left with the bases loaded, driving in Ben Zobrist.

 

Ross was substituted for a pinch hitter in the sixth, and he gave a big hug with Lester in the dugout.

“I just said I love him,” Ross said. “Thanks for everything. I love him.”

Ross and Lester often hang out together off the field and have been together for years. Lester settled to a six-year, $155 million deal in December 2014, a major moment in the Cubs’ rebirth. He then followed Lester to Chicago for a two-year, $5 million contract, and quickly turned into a valuable leader in the clubhouse.

“I love him like a brother, like a dad, like a mentor,” Rizzo said. “I was pretty emotional, seeing him in that at-bat driving in that run, throwing that guy out. We were talking before the game, this will be a blast. We got the W. We just need to get two more Ws.”

 

 

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