The Pittsburgh Pirates experienced a crushing defeat on Wednesday, marking what seems to be the definitive end of their 2024 season. The Chicago Cubs triumphed with a 14-10 victory, pushing the Pirates’ record to 62-71 and sending them to the bottom of the NL Central. This loss not only demoralized even the most hopeful Pirates fans but also saw the Cubs stage a dramatic comeback.
Despite trailing by seven runs through the sixth inning, the Cubs capitalized on a struggling Pittsburgh bullpen. Christian Bethancourt sparked the Cubs’ rally with a two-run homer in the seventh inning and later delivered a go-ahead single in the ninth. Reliever David Bednar, once a fan favorite, took the loss after allowing five runs on three hits in just 0.2 innings.
This defeat handed the Cubs a three-game series sweep, erasing any positive momentum the Pirates had gained from their recent series win against the Reds. The normally reserved Pirates manager, Derek Shelton, expressed his frustration during the postgame press conference, telling reporters, “I don’t know if I’ve ever been as pissed as I am right now,” when asked if this sweep was the toughest challenge of his tenure.
Shelton’s frustration was compounded by another strong performance from rookie Paul Skenes, who allowed just two runs on five hits while striking out six. Despite not being at his best, Skenes received run support—something the Pirates’ offense has rarely provided for him this season.
The timing of this loss is particularly unfortunate as the Pirates recently shifted Oneil Cruz from shortstop to center field, signaling a shift in focus away from contending for the wild-card spot. With the team now 11 games out of the final wild-card position, the Pirates have once again faltered in the face of a controversial decision.
