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CLEVELAND -- Nothing scares these Chicago Cubs. Not the stakes, the weight of history, a tough night at the plate or the prospect of going down two games to none in the franchises first World Series in 71 years.Their at-bats were good during a Game 1 shutout loss, the Cubs insisted. A breakout by the balanced lineup that propelled them to a National League championship and the best record in the majors was just a swing away.Three swings, as it turned out.Kris Bryant provided the first, a sharp single to center field off Cleveland Indians starter Trevor Bauer two batters into Game 2 on Wednesday night that gave the Chicago dugout and blue-clad Cubs fans scattered throughout Progressive Field a needed jolt.The second came seven pitches later, a double to right from Anthony Rizzo that sent Bryant racing home with the Cubs first World Series run since Harry Truman was president.The third was in the fifth, a triple to right by Ben Zobrist that handed Jake Arrieta all the cushion he needed in a 5-1 victory that tied the Fall Classic at one game apiece heading back to Wrigley Field on Friday.Our goal today, it felt like a must-win for us, Bryant said. We didnt want to go home down 0-2.And so the Cubs didnt, thanks in large part to three players who represent the various stages of Chicagos renaissance under President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein.Rizzo, the teams longest-tenured position player, endured 101 losses during his first season with the Cubs in 2012, a summer-long bout of misery that led to Chicago taking Bryant with the second pick in the 2013 amateur draft.Bryants arrival in the majors last spring helped propel the Cubs to 97 wins and a spot in the NLCS, leading Zobrist -- fresh off a championship with the Royals in 2015 -- to sign with Chicago last winter.There the three were in the heart of the order Wednesday, scoring four of their teams five runs to move the Cubs within three victories of the franchises first World Series title in 108 years.Oh, and the guy hitting behind them -- designated hitter Kyle Schwarber -- is 3 for 7 in the World Series after missing all but two games this season with torn ligaments in his left knee.I like our chances with and without Schwarber, Chicago catcher David Ross said. I like them a lot more with Schwarber.And the duo nicknamed Bryzzo, too.Bryant went hitless in his first Series game Tuesday night, though he was hardly alone as the Cubs mustered little against Corey Kluber, Andrew Miller and Cody Allen.The going wasnt nearly as tough against Bauer, who pitched with the pinkie on his right hand still recovering from a gash sustained while he was tinkering with a toy drone earlier in the playoffs.Bryant ripped a single up the middle on a 2-2 pitch in the first and scored on Rizzos double. It was Chicagos first run since the eighth inning of a Game 7 loss to Detroit in the 1945 World Series, a mere 44 years before Rizzo was born.Those guys, theyre the two keys, Zobrist said. The biggest cogs in our lineup and when those guys swing the bat it gives the rest of us confidence.Rizzo walked and Zobrist singled in the third before Rizzo scored on a single by Schwarber to make it 2-0. In the fifth, Rizzo led off with a walk and raced home on Zobrists triple into the right-field corner. Zobrist scored to make it 4-0 when Schwarber singled up the middle.Zobrist has come through in the clutch much the way he did while helping the Royals to a title last fall.Hes been our leader, especially in this World Series, Ross said. Hes the guy you lean on thats been in this moment. And hes the one stepping up big, getting the best at-bats, taking walks, hitting doubles, running the bases really well. Just a baseball player through and through.One thats now 5 for 9 through two games in his third World Series.In the end, this October night on baseballs biggest stage felt like so many other games Chicago has played over the last six-plus months. Arrieta dominated, the lineup delivered and the crowd chanted Lets Go Cubs.All the way back to Chicago, where a chance to start a party more than a century in the making awaits. 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That particular season the late great Harry Caray was calling the White Sox games.TSNs Jack Armstrong offers his thoughts on Metta World Peace, Brian Shaw, Eric Bledsoe, Trey Burke, and Jerry Sloan. 1. METTA WORLD PEACE (Lakers): The Lakers decided to exercise his $ 7.7 million player option for this upcoming season. Watching him play this past year, I see a guy whose skills are in decline and his best days are behind him. It will be interesting to see if the Lakers use their Amnesty Provision on him; wouldnt surprise me. 2. BRIAN SHAW (Nuggets): Shaw was hired as the Nuggets new head coach. Hes walking into a good situation with solid talent level. Questions about the return of Andre Iguodala, who opted out of his deal, and the health of Danilo Gallinari make the situation a little more challenging. Add to the fact that theyre coming off a 57-win season when they fired George Karl and the expectations will be high. Karl only got the Nuggets to the second round of the playoffs one time. The key for Shaw will be lots of regular season wins and better playoff success than Karl. I like Shaw and think hes got the potential to be a good head coach. He paid his dues with the Lakers and Pacers after his playing days were over; hes ready. He walks into a situation that is a much more positive one than most young coaches get a chance at. He knows all about expectations from his Lakers days and will be able to handle it. 3. ERIC BLEDSOE (Clippers): Bledsoes name is being tossed around in trade talks. A lot of teams are big fans of his and in the likely case that Chris Paul retturns to LA, I see a new location being the best thing for him in his young career.dddddddddddd Hes ready to take the next step as a player and needs to be in a situation where hes counted on to play major minutes and produce as a top-flight point guard. The only way well find out what his true potential is, is if he gets the opportunity to be the lead guard for a team. 4. TREY BURKE (U of Michigan): Burke will likely be drafted somewhere in the first eight spots tomorrow evening in the NBA Draft. In spite of his lack of size, he has off-the-charts quickness; I like his game. Hes sound fundamentally and a consistent player who knows how to play the game. Hell be a good pro. Very good or great? Im not sure about that, but hell be a good fit for the team that drafts him. This is a weak draft and as long as teams are realistic about players ceilings and upside rather than looking at the draft slot he was picked in, youll get the proper return on investment. Burkes a winning player. 5. JERRY SLOAN (Jazz): Sloan re-joined his old team as a consultant. Its a good move by the team. Hes an outstanding coach and person. Im a bit surprised that he wasnt hired as a coach by a team looking for a new boss. He obviously didnt want to deal with the frustrations of coaching a team not ready for primetime. Hell be a terrific mentor for his former assistant coach, Tyrone Corbin in Utah. The NBA needs older coaches with great wisdom to help. More teams should tap into men like this with great leadership ability to serve as consultants and advisors. ' ' '