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Cubs eliminated; then lose to Bucs

PITTSBURGH — The Chicago Cubs felt they were in the beginning stages of a dynasty three years ago. The Cubs ended a 108-year drought in 2016 by winning their first World Series since 1908. With a talented young core of hitters, Chicago thought it would be the first of multiple trips to the Fall Classic.

But the Cubs haven’t returned to the World Series, and this year they will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

The collapsing Cubs were eliminated from playoff contention shortly before losing their eighth straight game, falling 4-2 to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night.

Back-to-back wild pitches by David Phelps in the eighth inning enabled Pittsburgh to score the winning run. Just before Phelps’ bout with wildness, Milwaukee clinched the second NL wild card with a 9-2 victory at Cincinnati.

Phelps entered in relief with the score tied 2-2 and walked Pablo Reyes to put runners on first and second with one out. Jose Osuna drew a walk from Brad Wieck (1-2) before scoring on the wild pitches, and Erik Gonzalez added a sacrifice fly.

Gonzalez was 3 for 3 with two RBIs as Pittsburgh won for the second straight night over the Cubs following a nine-game losing streak.

Michael Feliz (4-4) pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Keone Kela worked the ninth for his first save of the season. Kela has taken over as closer after All-Star Felipe Vazquez was arrested and jailed last week on felony charges including sexual assault of a minor.

Both starters, Lester and Pirates rookie Dario Agrazal, pitched six innings and allowed two runs.

Ian Happ’s homer leading off the seventh pulled the Cubs into a 2-2 tie and chased Agrazal.

“It’s my last outing of the season and I wanted to finish strong,” Agrazal said through a translator.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said he has received assurances from team management that he will return next year for his 10th season.

“Every conversation I’ve had with (general manager) Neal (Huntington) is how we come back and get better, and anybody in the organization,” Hurdle said. “So, my mindset is I want to come back. I plan on coming back. The opportunity for us to improve and get better is important to me, as well as everybody I’ve had conversations with.”

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