by Boutros Boutros Ghali
Johnny Paycheck did his job yesterday, but the Handsome Youngsters did not help make the effort stand against Gerrit Cole and the Cubs do not clinch at Wrigley Field.
The big story of the game was that the Cubs' Magic Number was at 1. If the Cubs get one win or the Giants get one loss, then that would mean the Giants were mathematically eliminated (not that there was any real chance they could catch the Cubs) from the Wild Card race. With Lester on the mound in Wrigley, Cubs fans were looking forward to a post game celebration that they never got.
John Lester went seven strong innings for the Cubs in this game and only gave up two runs to the streaking Pirates. Unfortunately, even that number was not enough for the Cubs to win because Gerrit Cole was on the mound for the Buckos and was equally good. 
The first run of the game came in the third inning. Lester had burned through the first seven hitters of the game without anyone getting on until Jordy LaForge hit a double into the ivy in the outfield and Kyle Schwarber raised his hands up because it had disappeared.
With the pitcher at the plate, the double did not look so bad. Unfortunately, Cole thinks the DH is for pussies and he smacked a single past a diving Addison Russell into center field. Mercer was able to score on the play. Cubs 0-Pirates 1.
It looked like the Cubs were getting to Cole in the second time through the order as they answered back with a run in the fourth inning to tie it up. Bryant and Rizzo opened the frame with singles and the Cubs had runners at the corners with nobody out.
Coghlan struck out, but Addison Hustle lifted the Cubs with an RBI groundout. The athletic short stop hit a weak grounder to short stop for what looked like a double play. Russell respected 90 though and the Pirates only got the lead runner at second and were too late for Addison at first. Because they could not turn the double play, Bryant scored and the Cubs had a tie game.
The Pirates were able to take the lead once again in the seventh inning. Former Cub Aramis Ramirez laced a liner out to the wall between left and center that allowed his bad groin having, slow running, old man ass to make it all the way to second base. The Pirates lifted the gimp for pinch runner Kent Brockman.
Cervelli laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Kent Brockman over to third base. Outspoken left winger Michael Moore surprised everyone by going to the right field and Brockman scored on the hit. Cubs 1-Bucs 2.
Pedro Strop took over for Lester in the 8th inning and despite striking out his first batter, Strop had a man on first right away. Miguel Montero had entered the game and was not sharp as the third strike to Jordy LaForge hit the dirt and rolled all the way to the brick wall. Jordy was able to make it to first base and Strop's dead relatives were giving Montero the stink eye from Heaven (otherwise known as Wrigley Field).
Alvarez committed some Pedro on Pedro Crime with a single to put runners at the corners and then Starling hit a high bouncer to Starlin who threw threw Starling out at first base while Jordy LaForge crossed the plate. That play brought out the Castro boo birds as everyone thought he should have gone home with the throw.
It's possible that Castro could have made the out at home, but he decided to go to first base. I'm not sure why he chose that, but it looks like he may have had a bad transition from glove to hand in the video. Regardless, if he goes home and does not get the out, the Pirates still get the run and there is only one out.
It was a split second decision and I'm not sure he made the wrong choice. If Montero just gets in front of the ball on the third strike, this play never needs to be discussed, so I think I'm willing to blame Montero for the winning run more than Castro. Cubs 1-Bucs 3.
The Cubs were not ready to let the fans leave without some fake rally action in the ninth inning though. The Norf Sider worked a pinch hit double to start the inning. Castro made that double pay off by hitting a one out triple to pull the Cubs within one run.
Maddon decided he would rather see Quintin Berry get stranded at third base instead of Castro so Berry got the call to be a pinch runner. Jorge Soler and Javier Baez both struck out against Melancon and the fake rally was killed. Cubs 2-Pirates 3.
The Cubs did not clinch their appearance in the Wild Card game at Wrigley Field, but later in the evening, the Oakland A's beat the Giants to bring the Magic Number for the WC Play In game to zero.
I am actually glad it happened in the middle of the night because I personally did not want to see a bunch of excitement over a play in berth. I'd love to see the Cubs go a little nuts on October 4th, after their last game to celebrate the entire season, but celebrating the fifth spot in the post season is a little bit like Pedro Strop's fist pump after striking out the pitcher.
That's the Reckless Recap. Join us tomorrow to relive the first game the Cubs will play without having to worry about making the post season.
Go Cubs!