now is without forward Justise Winslow (sprained wrist). Ro

CLEVELAND -- They conquered injuries, adversity and doubts all season. The little team that could.The Cleveland Indians were models of resiliency, the comeback kids. Knock em down, but they bounced right back. And they did it again in Game 7 on the brink of heartbreak.But they couldnt contain the curse-busting Chicago Cubs.Clevelands unexpected, unforgettable season ended one victory shy of a World Series title as Chicago completed a comeback from a 3-1 deficit to capture its first championship since 1908, beating the Indians 8-7 in 10 innings early Thursday.An incredible game to be part of, manager Terry Francona said.The Indians just didnt have enough. Ace Corey Kluber couldnt win for a third time in the Series, Andrew Miller looked mortal in relief and an overtaxed bullpen finally crumbled in extra innings.They tried until there was nothing left, Francona said.It wasnt meant to be, but following a game hell never forget, Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis was filled with pride.There is nothing for us to hang our heads about, he said. We overcame every single thing they could throw at us. We had injuries. We had you name it, and not once did we use it as an excuse.All we did was put our noses to the ground and kept fighting. We took a very good ballclub to extra innings of Game 7 of the World Series, so I dont think Ill be hanging my head for too long. Im very proud of what weve done.Down 5-1, the Indians never stopped.They scored two runs in the fifth, when both Carlos Santana and Kipnis scored on a wild pitch. Then Rajai Davis connected for a two-run homer in the eighth to tie it 6-6. The season seemed to be saved -- only briefly.But this year belongs to the Cubs, who scored twice in the 10th off Bryan Shaw following a 17-minute rain delay.Cleveland tried to rally in the bottom half, when Davis two-out RBI single made it 8-7. But then Michael Martinez, who was twice claimed off waivers in the regular season and wasnt on the roster when the season opened, grounded out.We fought all year, Kipnis said. We fought all game.Said Francona: That was quite a Series.Now the Indians World Series drought of 68 years is baseballs longest.After the final out, most Cleveland players quickly left the dugout. Not Kipnis, who grew up in suburban Chicago rooting for the Cubs. He leaned on the railing and briefly watched a celebration that remains only a dream, but one that seems more attainable for the Indians.Well be back, Kipnis said.This one hurts for Cleveland fans, but not as much as 1997, when the Indians blew a late lead in Game 7 on a humid night in Florida and lost in extra innings to the Marlins.The 2016 Indians werent expected to win the American League Central or beat Boston in the division series or take out Toronto in the AL Championship Series or push Chicago up against the wall. And yet, thats what the Indians did, which is why it will sting all winter.It was right there for them. After winning two of three at Wrigley Field, the Indians came home to Progressive Field with two chances to close out the Cubs, but couldnt get it done. Cleveland is the first Series team since the 1979 Baltimore Orioles to lose Games 6 and 7 in their own ballpark.Kluber was magnificent throughout Clevelands dash in October, but he ran out of gas on a warm November night.Taking on the Cubs for the third time in nine days was too much to ask of the right-hander, who won his first two starts in the Series. He gave up a homer to Dexter Fowler on his fourth pitch and was pulled in the fifth by Francona, who had no choice but to start the 30-year-old on short rest if the Indians were going to have any chance against Chicagos loaded lineup.I just made some mistakes, Kluber said.While Kluber wasnt as sharp in Game 7 as he had been, neither was Miller.The lights-out left-hander, whose acquisition at the trade deadline vaulted the Indians from competitive to contenders, allowed two runs -- one being a homer to 39-year-old Cubs catcher David Ross. Entering Game 7, Miller had allowed just one run in 17 innings over nine appearances in this postseason.As it turned out, a second title for a Cleveland team in four months was too much to ask.When LeBron James and the Cavaliers ended the citys 52-year championship drought in June, the Indians went along for the ride as Cleveland morphed into Believeland, and anything seemed possible.And it was, until the Cubs came calling.The Indians moved into first place in the AL Central on June 4 and never moved out. They won 14 straight games from June 17 to July 1 -- a run that coincided with the Cavs winning their title -- and then held off the Kansas City Royals and Detroit Tigers despite losing starters Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar to injuries in September.Cleveland played all but 11 games without All-Star left fielder Michael Brantley, who couldnt make it back following offseason shoulder surgery. The Indians also shook off PED suspensions for outfielders Marlon Byrd and Abraham Almonte by acquiring Coco Crisp and Brandon Guyer, two veterans who not only plugged holes in the lineup but provided veteran leadership for Clevelands youngsters.But Francona was the real difference-maker.The 57-year-old manager, who guided Boston to two Series titles, somehow steered the Indians around danger for months. He got the most out of this team, mostly unknowns to the rest of the country, but now a team worth watching for years to come. Tony Gonzalez Youth Jersey . -- Lou Brocks shoulder-to-shoulder collision with Bill Freehan during the 1968 World Series and Pete Roses bruising hit on Ray Fosse in the 1970 All-Star game could become relics of baseball history, like the dead-ball era. Kaleb McGary Falcons Jersey . Meanwhile, there were huge victories for Sunderland and West Ham over fellow relegation rivals, leaving the battle to avoid the drop up for grabs with the bottom 11 teams separated by just six points. Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres scored second-half goals to seal a fourth straight victory for Chelsea, which climbed above Arsenal and Manchester City in the standings ahead of their games on Monday and Sunday respectively. http://www.falconsrookiestore.com/Falcons-Steve-Bartkowski-Jersey/ . Miikka Kiprusoff had just announced his retirement after a decade-long run in Calgary and it would be up to Berra and Ramo to fill the void. John Cominsky Falcons Jersey . - After leading the Saints to a fourth playoff appearance in five seasons, Drew Brees expressed confidence in the direction of his team and, perhaps more importantly, showed a willingness to listen to contract proposals if the team needs his help getting under the NFLs salary cap. Julio Jones Jersey . Scott won the Australian PGA last week in his first event in Australia since winning the U.S. Masters in April. American Matt Kuchar, ahead by two strokes with four to play and even with Scott with one to go, double-bogeyed the 18th after taking two shots to get out of a bunker. MIAMI -- The Atlanta Hawks won in a different manner than usual.The Miami Heat, their story stayed the same.Dennis Schroder scored 18 points, Paul Millsap and Tim Hardaway Jr. each had 15 and the Hawks pushed their winning streak to five games by beating the reeling Heat 93-90 on Tuesday night.The Hawks were held nearly 17 points below their season scoring average, and prevailed despite shooting just 35 percent in the fourth quarter.To find a way to win on the road against a team that competes every night in Miami, I think its a positive, Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said.Mike Muscala scored 14 and Kent Bazemore added 12 for the Hawks. Dwight Howard had 11 points and 11 rebounds for the Hawks, before leaving with 3:06 left in the third quarter with a bruised left thigh.Were obviously not playing our best basketball yet, Millsap said.Hassan Whiteside scored 19 points and grabbed an NBA season-high 25 rebounds for Miami, which has now dropped six straight. The eight Heat losses so far this season have come by an average of 6.9 points -- with three of the last four coming by four points or less.All of the teams that have beaten Miami so far are currently over .500.Were not losing to bad teams, Whiteside said. Were right there. It makes no sense to get down on ourselves. Its not like were getting blown out. Were still a top-five defensive team. Were just trying to get the offense there. Were going to get it right.Josh Richardson also scored 19 for Miami, which got 14 points from Tyler Johnson, 13 from James Johnson and 11 from Dion Waiters.Miami got within one twice in the final 13.6 seconds, but the Hawks held on with free throws. Schroder swished a pair with 5.9 seconds left to put Atlanta up by three, and the Heat -- with no timeouts -- lost when Waiters 3-pointer hit thhe rim and bounced away as time expired.ddddddddddddThis is where you just have to have great mental resolve to stay the course, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. Eventually, you get your breakthrough.TIP-INSHawks: Despite his night ending early, Howard got his eighth double-double in 10 games this season. ... The Hawks have been the NBAs best team so far this season in forcing turnovers, and were at it again Tuesday. They turned 23 Heat turnovers into 25 pointsHeat: Miami was again without point guard Goran Dragic (sprained ankle) and now is without forward Justise Winslow (sprained wrist). Rodney McGruder started for Winslow. ... Plenty of seats were empty, but the game was declared Miamis 300th consecutive home sellout based on tickets distributed.HI, MOMThe Heat honor a soldier before every home game, and choose a player to present him or her with an award in a center-court ceremony. Richardson got picked to do the honors Tuesday night -- since the Heat were honoring his mother, retiring U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Alice Richardson.HI, DADHardaway Jr. finally had a good game in the building where his fathers number is retired.Tim Hardaways No. 10 sways from the Heat rafters next to Alonzo Mournings No. 33 (and soon, Shaquille ONeals No. 32). But his son had struggled in his first four games as a visitor to Miami, shooting a combined 7 for 36 -- including 1 for 20 from 3-point range.But he made 6 of 10 shots on Tuesday.UP NEXTHawks: Host Milwaukee on Wednesday. Atlanta is off to a 5-1 start at home this season.Heat: Host Milwaukee on Thursday. The Heat will spend part of Wednesday handing out Thanksgiving dinners to 600 underprivileged families. ' ' '