Hold the confetti. Keep the champagne bottles corked. Unplug the smoke machine.
For a few hours, at least.
The Cubs could have clinched a playoff berth with a victory Friday, but instead came away with a 3-2 loss to the Pirates in front of 40,432 fans at Wrigley Field.
The loss forced the Cubs to wait and watch the scoreboard to see the outcome of the Giants-A's game late Friday night in Oakland. With the Cubs' magic number at one, a Giants loss would put the North Siders into the playoffs.
[MORE CUBS: Joe Maddon - No place for retribution in Cubs-Pirates rivalry]
The Cubs couldn't do much against Gerrit Cole - whom Pittsburgh will likely throw in the wild-card game - as they managed just four hits and a run off the Pirates ace.