The wait was five years. It seemed longer.

In the middle of a darkened visitors clubhouse at PNC Park, the Chicago Cubs embraced each other. Champagne flowed and flew. They clinched a postseason berth for the first time since 2020, but celebrated for the first time since 2017.

Everything was muted during the coronavirus pandemic when the Cubs last qualified. They held off after making it in 2018, hoping to win the NL Central, just to finish second to the Milwaukee Brewers.

After defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-4 on Wednesday, Chicago finally decided to let loose.

The Cubs (88-64) seemed destined for the playoffs since going 18-9 in May. Still, this hasn’t been straightforward. They lead the NL Wild Card and are 5 games back of the first-place Brewers in the Central, having surrender

See Full Page