(Reuters) - The Pittsburgh Pirates had the second best regular season record in Major League Baseball, but one playoff game against an in-form pitcher on Wednesday ended their season abruptly.
For the second successive year, the Pirates had to take their chances in a one-off Wild Card game.
Last year they ran into San Francisco Giants left-hander Madison Bumgarner, who, a few weeks later, clinched the World Series for his team.
This time they encountered Chicago Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta, who came into the game as the hottest pitcher in the majors.
Both times the Pirates were shutout.