No. 3: World Series Game 5, Cubs vs. Indians

Facing elimination, the Cubs rallied at Wrigley, then held off the Indians late to win Game 5 and keep their season—and title hopes—alive.

The first four games of the World Series between the Cubs and the Indians were mostly drama-free. Even Game 3—a 1–0 win by Cleveland that ended on a Cody Allen strikeout of Javier Baez with runners at second and third—felt oddly antiseptic thanks to the bevy of pitching changes and a Chicago offense that only had one at-bat with a runner in scoring position over the first eight innings. But Game 5—with the Cubs facing elimination and the Indians just a win away from a title—was everything that makes a postseason game great.

The Indians jumped ahead 1–0 on a Jose Ramirez home run in the second inning, but the Cubs countered with a three-run fourth that began with a Kris Bryant home run. Jon Lester was brilliant again in holding Cleveland to two runs over six innings, and closer Aroldis Chapman recorded the first eight-out save of his career, shutting down Indians' rallies in the seventh and eighth and cruising in the ninth to keep Chicago alive with a 3–2 win.

• HAMILTON: Maddon's faith in Chapman vindicated as Cubs win Game 5