The Cubs came to Wrigley Field on Wednesday with an October berth within reach, but Miami left them waiting another day. Chicago’s 3-2 loss to the Marlins, paired with Arizona’s win over Colorado later in the night, kept the Wild Card race alive with four regular-season games still on the Cubs’ schedule.
Wednesday at Wrigley Field
| Team | R |
|---|---|
| Marlins | 3 |
| Cubs | 2 |
Chicago and Philadelphia both lost, leaving the clubs level at 87-71. The Padres held a half-game edge for the top National League Wild Card position entering the conclusion of their game against the Dodgers. The Cubs own tiebreakers against both Philadelphia and San Diego, but they still need to finish the job on the field.
Kevin Gausman gave Chicago the sort of outing a club hopes to carry into a postseason series. His splitter was sharp all night, producing 19 swings and misses among 21 total whiffs. The right-hander worked 5 2/3 innings, struck out seven and escaped a fifth-inning jam in convincing fashion.
Javier Sanoja opened that fifth with a ground-rule double that vanished into the ivy in right-center. Gausman answered by punching out the next three Miami hitters, leaving the runner where he stood. His lone major mistake came an inning later, when Kyle Stowers drove a two-run homer that put the Marlins in front.
One timely hit, not enough support
The Cubs had spent Tuesday night stranding chances in a 12-inning defeat, going 1-for-18 with runners in scoring position and leaving 15 men aboard. The frustration followed them into Wednesday.
Miami starter Ryan Gusto held Chicago quiet for 5 1/3 innings before departing with two Cubs on base. Dansby Swanson finally supplied the needed hit, fighting through a broken bat for a two-run single that tied the game at 2-2. It also ended a Chicago drought of 24 straight hitless at-bats with runners in scoring position.
That was the Cubs’ answer, but it did not last. Miami pushed across the deciding run against left-hander Ryan Rolison in the seventh, and Chicago could not manufacture another response.
There is still no reason for panic in the Cubs’ clubhouse; the tiebreaker picture remains favorable, and a postseason trip is still theirs to claim. But after a night built for a clinching celebration, Chicago heads into its final four games with the work unfinished.
