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CLEVELAND -- They conquered injuries, adversity and doubts all season. The little team that could.The Indians were models of resiliency, the comeback kids. Knock `em down, they bounced right back, and they did it again in Game 7 on the brink of heartbreak.But they couldnt contain the curse-busting Cubs.Clevelands unexpected, unforgettable season ended one victory shy of -- and so achingly close to -- 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.The Indians just didnt have enough as 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.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, and when Rajai Davis connected for a two-run homer in the eighth to tie it 6-all, the season was 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 again 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 opening day roster, grounded out.We fought all year, Kipnis said. We fought all game.It was all manager Terry Francona could ask from a team that was overlooked for months. Following the game, he thanked his players for their effort and a run they hope to take a step further in the future.I just told them its going to hurt, he said. It hurts because we care, but they need to walk with their head held high because they left nothing on the field.They tried until there was nothing left.Forced to take on Americas new favorite postseason pastime, these talented Cubbies, without two talented starting pitchers, Cleveland came up just a bit short.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.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 AL 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 its own ballpark.Kluber, magnificent throughout the Indians dash through October, 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 a few mistakes and they were able to hit a couple home runs off of them, Kluber said. Those couple runs in the fourth inning were kind of hard to swallow.And 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 a homer to 39-year-old Cubs catcher David Ross -- and didnt dominate. Entering Game 7, he had allowed just one run in 17 innings over nine appearances this postseason.It was awesome to fight like that throughout the game, Miller said. I wish I had made a couple better pitches and we wouldnt have had to play at the end there.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 there was a feeling anything was 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 tried but couldnt make it back following offseason shoulder surgery. The Indians also shook off PED suspensions of 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 World 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 one worth watching for years to come.Well be back, Kipnis said.Fake USA Soccer Jerseys .com) - The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks both take aim at their first wins of the season on Saturday, as the Canucks open their home slate at Rogers Arena. USA Soccer Jerseys China . Hey!" 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The Canadiens Get: LW Thomas Vanek and a conditional fifth-round pick.ALLEN PARK, Mich. -- Detroit receiver Golden Tate is back and the Lions are reaping the benefits.Tate, who struggled during the Lions 1/3 start, has played an important role in Detroits two-game winning streak, finishing with a career-high 165 receiving yards Sunday in a 31-28 win over the Rams. His 23-yard touchdown tied the score at 28-28 in the fourth quarter.Obviously, its great to see him have a big game, coach Jim Caldwell said Monday. He had a really fine game and you know hes capable of it. Hes a talented, talented guy. I anticipate hes going to have more of those.Tate never got discouraged, despite a rough opening four games in which he had 14 receptions for 95 yards and no touchdowns. He finished with one catch for one yard in Detroits 17-14 loss at Chicago in Week 4.Im kind of a forget-the-past guy, Tate said. Just keep grinding, keep working. I cant control when the ball will be thrown to me or what side (Matthew) Stafford is looking at. When my number is called, I can control from then on.The Lions have been calling his number more often. In the victory over Philadelphia two weeks ago, Tate had three catches for 39 yards, including a third-down reception that helped set up the game-winning field goal. He was targeted 10 times against the Rams, finishing with a season-high eight receptions.Tate, who averaged 20.6 yards per catch Sunday, also had a touchdown overturned in the third quarter when officials ruled he was down by contact near the end zone. The 61-yard reception set up Staffords scoring pass to Anquan Boldin two plays later, giving Detroit a 21-14 lead.With the Lions (3-3) potentially saving their season with two straight wins,, things dont get easier.dddddddddddd Detroit hosts Washington (4-2) on Sunday, and the Redskins enter on a four-game winning streak.The way we practiced the last two weeks, were hard to beat, Tate said. Every position played good, solid football (against the Rams). When we didnt, it was because of mental mistakes. Youve got to love that we kept our composure and kept fighting.Detroits turnaround has also quieted the rumors surrounding Caldwells job security, although the Lions coach was not patting himself on the back.The season is not over. Its not even close to being over, Caldwell said Monday. We have to do better this coming week, better than we were last week. If we dont, were going to have problems.All of Detroits games have been decided by seven points or fewer, including one-point and three-point wins the past two weeks.When games are really tight at the end, it takes a certain mindset that you dont get nervous, dont get out of whack, Caldwell said. Our guys are developing in that area. Its not necessarily something wed like to happen every single week, but well take it any way we can get it these days.Stafford has been pleased with the Lions ability to handle adversity.Whether its Week 1 in that situation that we had to come from behind and win (against Indianapolis), or these late fourth-quarter comebacks that we had these last couple weeks, we just seem to rise to the occasion, Stafford said. Thats the NFL and it comes down to the fourth quarter more often than it doesnt. Youve got to make the plays to win it. ' ' '