PITTSBURGH -- The season can't get over fast enough for the Chicago Cubs who were pushed to the brink of playoff elimination after a sloppy 9-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night, the Cubs' seventh consecutive defeat.
"I didn't expect this to be happening," losing pitcher Kyle Hendricks said afterwards. "We weren't prepared for this at all. It's just unfortunate this group couldn't come together and get the job done."
After getting swept at home in a four game series by the St. Louis Cardinals over the weekend, the Cubs last hope came in facing the lowly Pirates -- a team that has been marred by infighting, a player's arrest and a nine-game losing streak.