CHICAGO -- Terry Francona is on the verge of ending another long World Series drought.Call him Mgr. October.Clevelands maestro of a manager, who has pushed all the right buttons this season and especially over the past few weeks, moved closer to capturing his third Series title as the Indians beat the Chicago Cubs 7-2 in Game 4 on Saturday night to take a 3-1 lead.Francona is the one who guided the Boston Red Sox around the Curse of the Bambino in 2004, helping them to their first title in 86 years. He led them to another three years later.And now hes got the resilient Indians on the edge of taking their first World Series in 68 years.The 57-year-old would never take any credit for Clevelands success, but the Indians wouldnt be where they are if not for Francona, who improved to 11-1 in World Series games.The guy everyone calls Tito -- his dads name -- claims he doesnt have a crystal ball. But he certainly seems to have a sixth sense when it comes to setting his lineup, pulling pitchers at just the right time and keeping his players focused.Hes at the front of all we do -- our attitude we take onto the field, the looseness we kind of carry ourselves and create the environment of having fun and being ourselves -- that all starts with him, said Jason Kipnis, whose three-run homer in the seventh blew the game open.Following Clevelands 1-0 victory in Game 3, a chess match with Chicagos Joe Maddon that he called one of the most agonizing games of his managerial career, Francona made the difficult decision of not starting first baseman Mike Napoli in Game 4.Hes like the heart and soul of our team, Francona said beforehand. It bothers me to sit him, a lot.Francona played Carlos Santana at first instead, and the move panned out when he homered leading off the second inning against John Lackey. And although his move proved to be wise, Francona wasnt happy he had to keep Napoli on the bench before using him as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning. Napoli flied out to the warning track in left-center.I still wasnt pleased that Nap didnt play, he said. But hell be in there tomorrow. His one at-bat, he took a really good swing that, I think, should help make him feel a little better going into tomorrow.Francona has been forced to be creative with his lineup during the three games at Wrigley Field, where the Indians have had to play by National League rules and couldnt use their designated hitter.He took a risk by starting Santana in left field for Game 3 even though the former catcher had played just four innings in his career in left. It worked, though, as Santana caught the only ball hit his way on a night when the wind was blowing out in Wrigley.That was probably the funnest moment of the game, Francona said of Santanas catch in the first. I was going crazy in the dugout. Then I thought I better cool it because there might be another one that finds him.None did, and Francona made several more astute moves in the first Series game at Wrigley in 71 years. He pulled starter Josh Tomlin in the fifth and ace reliever Andrew Miller came in and shut down the Cubs. And when Millers turn came up to bat, Francona sent in pinch-hitter Coco Crisp, who drove in the games only run.Of course he did.Francona also got a little lucky.He made so many double switches that he ran out of position players, and was going to have to bat Game 4 starter Corey Kluber.He almost used some guys that werent on the roster, joked Indians pitching coach Mickey Callaway. I mean, theres no better manager in all of baseball than him. He thinks of everything at every moment. Ive learned so much from him.Francona knew just what to do with Kluber on Saturday night.Miller was throwing in the bullpen when Anthony Rizzo doubled leading off the sixth. Miller, who has been virtually unhittable in the postseason, was ready but Francona stayed with Kluber and he promptly retired the next three batters.Its been like that all month as the Indians, who have been overlooked despite running away with the AL Central, swept Boston, beat Toronto in five games and are now a win away from their first title since 1948.The Indians can almost taste the champagne, but Francona wont let them think too far ahead.Nothing changes. Were going to show up tomorrow -- the only thing that changes is well pack our bags, because were going to go home one way or the other, and well show up and try to beat a really good pitcher, and thats what we always do. Nothing needs to change.That 48 Cleveland team was managed by Lou Boudreau, who was also the clubs starting shortstop.Francona laughed before Game 4 when he was asked if he was ready to play short.Im just trying to handle managing, he said. That will be enough.Its been more than that. Fake Vans . "Hes going to have hip surgery on Jan. 7, and hell be expected to rehabilitate for four to six months beyond that," Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said Friday in an interview. Fake Vans For Sale . MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez also will attend the session, which was announced Monday. The league has discussed placing its next two expansion teams in Miami and Atlanta. https://www.vansfake.com/ . -- Canadian Andrew Wiggins got the ball on the wing, made a nifty spin move and then let go with a soft floater from about 10 feet that swished through the net in Allen Fieldhouse. Fake Vans Cheap . Supported by three-run homers from Jayson Werth and Wilson Ramos, the young right-hander went seven strong innings in the Washington Nationals 8-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night. Fake Vans Website . It was the second consecutive win for the Pacers (2-5), who lost their first five preseason games. Jeff Teague led the Hawks (1-5) with 17 points and eight assists and Al Horford had 12 points and seven rebounds. Mike Scott scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half. AMHERST, N.Y. -- In 30 years of coaching, Lance Leipold had never been part of an overtime game before. Adam Mitcheson had never attempted a game-ending field goal before.Both the Buffalo coach and kicker had memorable first experiences in the Bulls 23-20 comeback victory over Army on Saturday night.Mitcheson sprinted from one end of the field to the other after making a 33-yard field goal in overtime to secure Buffalos first win of the season. Afterward, Mitcheson said hed never been in that situation before. Not even in high school, he said.The Bulls scored two touchdowns in the final nine minutes of the fourth quarter to force overtime against a previously unbeaten Black Knights team that had not allowed any of its first three opponents to score in the fourth quarter.Im really proud of our team, Buffalo coach Lance Leipold said. I think a lot of people might have counted this group out. We had our backs to the wall.Tyree Jackson passed for 178 yards and a touchdown and ran for 34 yards and two more touchdowns to lead the Buffalo comeback. His 1-yard touchdown plunge tied the game at 20-20 with 2:26 remaining. He also had a 12-yard run in overtime to set up Mitchesons kick.Its awesome for him to come in as a redshirt freshman and lead us the way he did, Buffalo tight end Mason Schreck said. Thats why this win feels so great. Because the future is in really good hands with Tyree.Army quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw rushed for a season-high 126 yards on 22 carries and had a 5-yard touchdown run to lead an Army rushing attack that totaled 396 yards. The Black Knights had the nations No. 2 rushing offense, averaging 367 yards in its first three games.Yards dont matter, Army coach Jeff Monken said. When you get it down in the red zone, you score. . We got down there a couple times and didnt capitalize.The Black Knights scored two touchdowns and one field goal in four trips to the red zone. On the fourth trip, Blake Wilson missed a 34-yard field goal attempt with three seconds left in regulation.Wilson also missed a 43-yard field goal aattempt in OT.dddddddddddd He made field goals from 21 and 38 yards in the first half.Armys Blake Wilson had missed a 43-yard field goal attempt in OT and also missed a 34-yarder in the final three seconds of regulation. Armys starting placekicker, Mitchell Howard, injured his left leg making a tackle on the opening kickoff.It was disappointing that we got our kicker hurt because we did such a poor job covering a kick, Monken said.Kamari Holsey caught a 5-yard touchdown from Jackson to cut Armys lead to 20-13 with 8:85 remaining.Army led 10-0 at halftime, but Bradshaws fumble on the first drive of the second half gave Buffalo the ball at the Army 23. That led to Jacksons first touchdown, but Mitcheson missed the extra point.Football is a game of momentum and when the defense makes a big play like that, especially coming off the half, were excited, theyre going, our energy is high and we know we have to return the favor, Jackson said.THE TAKEAWAYBuffalo: The Bulls avoided going 0-3 for the first time since 2005 and snapped a five-game losing streak dating to last season.Army: The Black Knights triple-option attack dominated for most of the game but fizzled in the fourth quarter. Turnovers also proved costly. Army did not give the ball away in any of its first three games, but had two turnovers in this game, including one that led to a Buffalo touchdown.You play that bad, were going to have trouble winning another game, Monken said.RESERVE EFFORTBuffalo cornerback Brandon Williams made his first career interception and forced a fumble that led to a touchdown. Williams started in place of the Boise Ross, who was suspended for the first half due to a targeting penalty in last weeks loss at Nevada. Ross was named to the preseason watch list for the Jim Thorpe Award.UP NEXTArmy: Following their bye week, the Black Knights will travel to Duke on Oct. 8.Buffalo: The Bulls play at Boston College on Saturday. ' ' '