As the Cubs celebrated clinching a playoff berth on the Pirates’ home field, all the Pirates could do was watch.
A few leaned on dugout railings as the Cubs slapped hands. Manager Don Kelly turned away. Chicago beat the Pirates 8-4 on Wednesday afternoon at PNC Park, completing a sweep of the Pirates and drawing cheers from the traveling, jubilant Cubs fans.
Those celebrations could have started after four batters, but the Pirates made them wait. The first four batters to face Pirates starter Johan Oviedo all scored — on a walk, a single, a run-scoring balk, a two-run homer from left fielder Ian Happ and a solo blast on the next pitch from designated hitter Moises Ballesteros.
Yet the Pirates fought back, mounting a two-out rally against lefty Matthew Boyd in the first inning that culmi