CLEVELAND — Mike Tyson, that great American orator, once said, “Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”
Throughout their implausible playoff run, the Indians have been Buster Douglas, bobbing and weaving, sustaining only glancing body blows as they adhered to the necessarily unconventional tactics orchestrated by manager Terry Francona. On Tuesday night, they became Michael Spinks. The fist to the teeth came quickly in Game 6 of this World Series, delivered by the Cubs, who danced away for an easy 9–3 win to set up a decisive Game 7 on Wednesday.
“It’s the only game that kind of got out of hand early,” said Cleveland first baseman Mike Napoli, of a postseason in which the Indians had not before Tuesday reached the fifth inning with a deficit of more than two runs.