Pittsburgh, PA – It was an explosive evening at PNC Park, where the Chicago Cubs asserted their strength and character with a 4-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, fanning the flames of playoff hope that were burning in the hearts of fans. This was not just a win, but a bold statement: the Cubs are ready to continue writing their October dream.
With a record of 87-64, the Cubs are in a fierce race to secure a postseason ticket. The victory over the Pirates – a team that had lost hope with a record of 65-87 – seemed easy, but it had great significance: it showed that the Cubs know how to beat the “underdog” opponent at the right time, a vital factor in the journey to the playoffs.
The pressure was on the Cubs from the start after the Pirates opened fire early, taking a 1-0 lead on a Jack Suwinski single. But instead of faltering, the Cubs calmly established their game. Miles Mastrobuoni hit a crucial homer in the fourth inning, bringing home the tying run. From there, the Cubs took complete control of the game.
If a few days ago, Nolan Arenado and the Cardinals shook the entire MLB, today the Cubs responded with their own weapon: team cohesion. Seiya Suzuki exploded with a double in the sixth, paving the way for Cody Bellinger to run in, giving the Cubs a 2-1 lead.
In the eighth, Bellinger continued to make his mark with a solo home run, the ball soaring over the left field fence at 105 mph. The entire Cubs fan base exploded, chanting “Cubbies! Cubbies!” overshadowing the faint cheers of the Pirates.
The brightest spot belonged to the Cubs bullpen. After a solid start, Justin Steele (starter) only allowed 1 run through 6 innings with 8 strikeouts, proving that he is the “steel shield” for the Cubs. The rest of the bullpen extinguished all hopes of the Pirates. In particular, closer Adbert Alzolay ended the 9th inning with a cold strikeout, closing the game in a wave of cheers.
“We know we can’t afford to stumble. Every game now is like a final,” Bellinger said after the game, sweating profusely but still smiling brightly.
With this victory, the Cubs solidified their position in the Wild Card group, putting enormous pressure on their direct opponents. They are showing a fiery performance in the final stage of the season, with a 19-8 streak since the end of August – a terrifying sprint.
Meanwhile, the Pirates have almost “surrendered” the season. Despite trying to hold on to hope, they continued to see a lackluster offense and a fragile bullpen, which has haunted the team all season.
On X (Twitter), the hashtag #FlyTheW exploded immediately after the game. One account wrote: “The Cubs are coming back at the right time – don’t underestimate their September power!” The post received more than 40,000 likes in just one hour.
ESPN experts commented: “If the Cubs continue to maintain this form, they will be an extremely dangerous dark horse in the postseason. The balance between offense and pitching is the key.”
The Cubs are now fighting not only for a playoff spot, but also for the faith of millions of fans. The 4-1 victory over the Pirates was just the starting point – the upcoming big matchup with the Brewers will be the real test, where the Cubs will have to prove they are worthy of glory.
From PNC Park, the Cubs sent the message: “We’re not done yet.” And as the blue fleet accelerates, no one is sure MLB can stop them in time.
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