Heavy wait champs: Cubs KO curse, Kersh!

CHICAGO — For the first time since 1945, the Cubs are going to the World Series. You shouldn’t be surprised. That’s been their plan since Spring Training, when manager Joe Maddon told them to embrace the target. All they had to do to erase years of angst was have the pitcher with the best ERA in the Majors in 2016 beat the best pitcher on the planet, and Kyle Hendricks did just that.

Anthony Rizzo and Willson Contreras each belted solo home runs to back Hendricks — who outdueled Clayton Kershaw — and power the Cubs to a 5-0 victory over the Dodgers to take the National League Championship Series, four games to two, at a rocking Wrigley Field. Yes, the Cubs are going to the World Series.

• Get official gear: Go, Cubs, going to World Series!

Ernie Banks, Billy Williams and Ron Santo could never say that, but these young Cubs will, and now face the Indians on Tuesday night in Cleveland. 

• World Series Game 1: Tuesday, 7:30 p.m. ET air time/ 8 ET game time on FOX

Game Date Matchup Highlights Gm 1 Oct. 15 CHC 8, LAD 4 Gm 2 Oct. 16 LAD 1, CHC 0 Gm 3 Oct. 18 LAD 6, CHC 0 Gm 4 Oct. 19 CHC 10, LAD 2 Gm 5 Oct. 20 CHC 8, LAD 4 Gm 6 Oct. 22 CHC 5, LAD 0 • NLCS coverageShop for postseason gear: Cubs | Dodgers

The Cubs faced Kershaw in Game 2, and he didn’t get much support but still won, 1-0. On Saturday, an error by Andrew Toles contributed to a Cubs run in a two-run first, and Hendricks did the rest. Toles collected the first hit off the right-hander when he singled to lead off the game, but he was snuffed out on a double play by second …

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