CHICAGO (AP) – With an early game Saturday, manager Joe Maddon figured the only way he would find out if the Chicago Cubs clinched a playoff spot was if he got up to go to the bathroom.
Well, they are in. And if Maddon slept through the night, he woke up to a nice surprise.
The sign outside Wrigley Field lit up with “Cubs Clinch Postseason Berth” after it became official late Friday night. Fans gathered around to take pictures and mark Chicago’s return for the first time since 2008.
The Cubs could have wrapped it up Friday afternoon with a win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, except Gerrit Cole outpitched Jon Lester and a late rally fell short in a 3-2 loss.
San Francisco then lost to Oakland 5-4, and that assured Chicago of at least an NL wild-card spot.