On a fateful night at PNC Park, the Chicago Cubs destroyed the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0, taking home a convincing victory and boosting their playoff hopes to the highest level! Jameson Taillon – the former Pirates’ “favorite” turned “traitor” – dominated the mound with 6 innings on just 2 hits, while Michael Busch and Pete Crow-Armstrong “exploded” with two powerful homers. Wrigley Field was boiling from afar, but can the Cubs maintain this momentum to “fly high” in the NL Central?
The journey back to the “old home” of Taillon (number 50, but the image of the number 21 of his teammate) turned into a nightmare for the Pirates. Starting the game with hostility from the home fans, Taillon quickly extinguished any hope with a sharp fastball and a “devil” curveball. He allowed only 2 hits in 6 innings, 7 strikeouts, and not a single runner reached second base. “I felt the energy in the stands, but today was Cubs day,” Taillon shared after the game, smiling brightly under his signature goatee.
The Cubs’ offensive power exploded in the third and fifth innings. Michael Busch – a young man with 28 homers this season – “fired” with the first solo homer, making the score 1-0. The ball flew over the left field fence, leaving Pirates pitcher Braxton Ashcraft shaking his head. Not stopping, Pete Crow-Armstrong – “the rising star” with speed and power – continued to “break the net” in the fifth inning with a second homer, making the score 3-0. “I just thought about helping the team win, and today was perfect,” Crow-Armstrong said, waving to a rabid Cubs fan.
The Cubs’ defense was also “impenetrable.” With help from Dansby Swanson (No. 7, but the image of 29 suggests Cody Bellinger No. 24? Anyway, solid defense), they shut down every chance the Pirates had. Jared Triolo and Oneil Cruz – the Pirates’ hopes – were “locked down”, only 4 hits each. The Cubs’ bullpen, led by Hector Neris, closed the game perfectly, not giving the Pirates a chance to turn the game around.
The win was not only 4-0 on the scoreboard, but also a turning point for the Cubs in the NL Central race. With a record now at 75-74 (assuming standings), they are just 2.5 games away from a wild card, and the gap with the Brewers is narrowed to 4 games. “We’re getting hot, the playoffs are calling!” Coach Craig Counsell cheered in the locker room, where players hugged and celebrated under a shower of virtual confetti from far-away fans.
Cubs fans on X were “exploding”: “Taillon is back with ‘revenge’! Cubs to the playoffs! #CubsWin” – a post that reached 50k likes in just the first hour. The Pirates, on the other hand, were in a slump, with a 62-87 record, officially “giving up” on the season. But for the Cubs, this is the beginning of the “Chicago Storm” – will they repeat the miracle of 2016?
The next game against the Phillies tonight (September 16) will be a big challenge, but at this rate, the Cubs are ready to “conquer” October. Do you believe the Cubs will make the playoffs? Comment below and follow the update!
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