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The Brewers had already swept the Cardinals on Wednesday, pulling even with the Cubs in the NL Central Division. It was fine though, as Jose Quintana was pitching well through five innings and the Cubs built a 6-1 lead over the Pirates. And then in a blink of an eye the Cubs’ season looked dead.
The trouble began in the bottom of the fifth inning, when Tommy La Stella pinch hit for Quintana. Again, Quintana was pitching pretty good, but the Cubs had runners at second and third with only one out. Joe Maddon wanted to break the game wide open then and there up 6-2. La Stella was intentionally walked to load the bases, but at the end the move backfired. David Bote grounded into an inning-ending double play.
But again, it was fine, the Cubs were still ahead 6-2, and Jesse Chavez pitched two scoreless innings. Then, disaster struck in the eighth.
Carl Edwards Jr. was bad again. He struck out the first batter he faced and then walked the next two. He was pulled and Steve Cishek wasn’t any better. He allowed a walk and then a two-run single that made it 6-4.
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And then came the moment where I’d say most Cubs fans lost faith in the season.
With one out and a runner at first in the top of the ninth Francisco Cervelli hit a pop up in foul territory and this happened when Anthony Rizzo tried to make the catch for the second out.
Of everyone on the planet, you’d think Cubs fans would know better than to interfere with a fielder. pic.twitter.com/APXinvuLZU
— Brandon Koretz (@BrandonKoretz) September 27, 2018
Yeah, we all thought the same thing.
A few pitches later Cervelli doubled and then the Pirates tied the game with two outs.
A ⭐️ in the 9th.#LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/KSaFs5WKDW
— Pirates (@Pirates) September 27, 2018
I’m not gonna lie, that’s the lowest I’ve felt about the Cubs since Jon Lester gave up 10 runs in one inning on the last game before the all-star break last year. That also happened against the Pirates at Wrigley Field.
So, the Cubs were dead. Blowing a 6-1 lead, while the Brewers keep winning.
Yet, when all hope was lost Albert Almora Jr. saved the night and for at least one more night the Cubs remain alone atop the central division.
.@albertalmora delivers the game-winner! #Walkoff pic.twitter.com/63mMnX8L4s
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 27, 2018
And with the win, the Cubs have officially clinched a playoff spot. Of course, the bigger goal is to win the division.
The Cubs have four games left this season. One more Thursday night against the Pirates and then three against the Cardinals. The Brewers are off on Thursday before ending their season with three games against the Tigers.
By the way, thank God the Cubs won because there are enough assholes that would’ve created another Steve Bartman harassment situation with the guy who got in Rizzo’s way in the ninth.
