Blown game to Cubs signals end to Pirates' 2024 hopes

The Pittsburgh Pirates lost in devastating fashion on Wednesday. And while that's a sentence that might not be surprising for some, at least based on the recent history of the franchise, this particular loss symbolizes the true end of the 2024 season.

The Chicago Cubs won 14-10, dropping the Pirates' record to 62-71. Beyond sending Pittsburgh to last place in the NL Central, the Cubs ripped out the heart of even the most optimistic Pirates fan.

Chicago's win included a comeback of epic proportions. The Cubs trailed by seven runs through six innings but then took advantage of an imploding Pittsburgh bullpen. Christian Bethancourt led the way by hitting a two-run homer to ignite the Cubs in the seventh and then driving two more runs home with a go-ahead single in the ninth.

And reliever David Bednar, a previously popular hometown favorite, took the loss by allowing five runs off three hits in only 0.2 innings of work.

The blown game handed the Cubs a three-game series sweep, which also completely tramples any positive momentum built after Pittsburgh took three out of four from the Reds. It also actually caused the normally soft-spoken Pirates manager Derek Shelton to unleash during his postgame session with the media.

"I don't know about the last three, but today, it's right up there," said Shelton to reporters, including MLB.com's Alex Stumpf , when asked if this sweep at the hands of the Cubs is the most challenging of his Pirates tenure.

"I don't know if I've ever been as pissed as I am right now."

Part of Shelton's anger undoubtedly stems from the fact this all happened on the heels of another solid start from Paul Skenes. The rookie sensation allowed two runs off five hits while striking out six batters.

And even though Skenes wasn't at his absolute best based on his past performances this season, he was enjoying run support, something that's been rare from the Pirates' offense when their ace has been on the mound.

All in all, the Pirates should've stopped the bleeding from earlier in the series and let a win completely get away.

The timing of Wednesday's loss is bad, too. On Sunday, the Pirates decided to move Oneil Cruz, who has exclusively played shortstop, to center field. This seemed to signal a willingness to experiment over trying to push to get back in the wild-card race - Pittsburgh now sits 11 games out of the National League's final wild-card spot.

In typical Pirates fashion, the team has responded to a controversial decision by the franchise by unraveling on the field as well.