Streaking Cubs clinch first postseason berth since 2020 - ESPN

PITTSBURGH — The Chicago Cubs, which hadn't been to the postseason since the 2020 season, were in the mood to party Wednesday afternoon — and so they did.

After clinching a National League playoff berth with an 8-4 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cubs players and coaches high-fived and hugged each other on the field before taking the celebration up a notch in the visitors' clubhouse.

With tarps in place and most wearing protective eyewear, a jubilant bunch doused each other with champagne and beer while others puffed victory cigars. Some did both.

«You don't get to do this in regular jobs, where you get to celebrate and throw champagne on each other,» manager Craig Counsell said. «You just don't get to do it, right? So you take advantage of it, have fun with it, enjoy each other and celebrate each other.»

ABSOLUTE CINEMA. pic.twitter.com/vUoKjrNMTP

FLY THE W, CHICAGO. pic.twitter.com/9Zc3CY6g1j

Ian Happ homered and drove in three runs as the Cubs won their fourth straight for their seventh victory in eight games. Chicago leads the National League wild-card standings with an 88-64 record.

«This is the right group to do it with, and I love being a Chicago Cub,» Pete Crow-Armstrong said. «I love being able to celebrate with these people, specifically.»

Nico Hoerner had two hits and scored three times for the Cubs. Justin Turner hit a pair of RBI singles after entering in the sixth.

The Cubs grabbed control with three runs in the sixth, helped by errors on Pirates reliever Yohan Ramírez (1-3) and catcher Joey Bart. Michael Busch drove in Dansby Swanson with a tiebreaking sacrifice fly, and Happ and Turner added run-scoring singles.

Aaron Civale (4-9) pitched three scoreless innings for the win.

The Cubs then got down