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Imrem: The Cubs' dream still has a pulse

The Cubs' dream is alive.

Not necessarily kicking, but alive just the same.

A 3-2 victory over Cleveland in Game 5 of the World Series on Sunday night enabled the Cubs to extend the baseball season at least a couple more days.

The Cubs narrowed their series deficit to 3-2 before leaving for Cleveland with an opportunity to make all sorts of history.

“Sometimes they beat you,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “I don't think we beat ourselves. (The Cubs) beat us.”

The possibility remains that the Cubs can be the first team to rally from down 3-1 in the World Series since 1985 … they can win the franchise's first championship in 108 years … they can extend the Indians' drought to 69 years.

The Cubs' hearts still are beating, but to the tune of “Auld Lang Syne.” Cub fans still are dancing, but they shoot horses, don't they?

(Parents, please explain that last one to your kids.)

All night in Wrigley Field, the mood was more hopeful than funereal.

Now if Cub fans close their eyes they can envision a seventh game of the World Series with the winner being …

Wait, wait, wait.

This is getting way ahead of ourselves. Don't managers preach to take it one pitch, one inning, one game at a time?

The Cubs can't win Game 7 on Wednesday night unless they win Game 6 on Tuesday night, just as they couldn't even play a Game 6 if they didn't win Game 5 on Sunday night.

Which they did.

Game 5 of the World Series was one of those “not-in-our-house” sports events.

The Cubs — their obits written and waiting — could have opened the doors and let the Indians come in to muddy the carpets, make themselves a baloney sandwich and assume control of the TV remote.

Instead the Cubs came to play this one out.

Even if the Cubs don't rally all the way back from down 3-1, nobody associated with them wanted to see the Indians celebrate a championship in Wrigley Field.

The Cubs gave it their all despite having been in the middle of this miserable predicament of having to win the final three games of the best-of-seven series.

Resilient all season, the Cubs were intent from the start of Game 5 to make the Indians earn their championship.

Cubs right fielder Jason Heyward went sprawling over the visiting bullpen in pursuit of a foul fly in the first inning.

An inning later, catcher David Ross bobbled a foul pop and first baseman Anthony Rizzo bobbled the bobble before securing it.

Two batters later, third baseman Kris Bryant dived into foul territory to nab a groundball and throw out the runner at first base.

The tone was set by those early-inning plays and the Cubs rode the rising tide all the way to Aroldis Chapman earning a 2.2-inning save.

“There's all kinds of drama out there,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.

The Indians still have the advantage heading home but momentum turned on this night and Cleveland's coronation suddenly became a competition.

But starting pitching — the Cubs' strength all season — remains so with Jake Arrieta and Kyle Hendricks ready to go.

“Momentum,” Maddon said, “always is based on your starting pitcher.”

The Cubs have been the best team in baseball all season and still have a chance to prove why.

The dream maintains a pulse.

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