Chicago Cubs shortstop Starlin Castro hits a RBI triple against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the ninth inning of their game at Wrigley Field in Chicago on Friday. Picture: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

Agencies/Chicago


The Chicago Cubs qualified for the postseason for the first time since 2008 despite losing 3-2 to the Pittsburgh Pirates at Wrigley Field on Friday.
The Pirates (94-60) moved 4 ½ games ahead of the Cubs (89-64) with eight regular-season games to play, but Chicago  clinched a postseason berth when the Oakland A’s defeated the San Francisco Giants 5-4 later that night.
Pirates right-hander Gerrit Cole (18-8) worked seven full innings for the win in a tight duel with Cubs left-hander Jon Lester, who also worked seven innings and fell to 10-12 with the loss.
Pittsburgh right-handed closer Mark Melancon struggled to shut the door in the ninth.
He gave up a double to pinch hitter Chris Denorfia and a run-scoring triple to second baseman Starlin Castro before securing the victory by striking out Javier Baez for his major-league-leading 51st save.
An announced crowd of 40,432 crowded into Wrigley Field anticipating history as the Cubs sought to clinch their first postseason playoff berth since 2008.
Since then, the Cu bs had wandered through five straight losing seasons—including 101 defeats in 2012 -- plus three managers until Joe Maddon helped right the ship with a collection of veterans and promising young talent.
Cole’s third-inning one-out single up the middle scored shortstop Jordy Mercer from second for a 1-0 Pirates lead.
Hitless through the first three innings, the Cubs tied the game 1-1 in the fourth.
Third baseman Kris Bryant collected the Cubs’ first hit, a leadoff single. He reached third on first baseman Anthony Rizzo’s bloop single to center and scored on shortstop Addison Russell’s fielder’s choice grounder to short.
Pirates third baseman Aramis Ramirez doubled into the left-field corner leading off the seventh. Ramirez was replaced by pinch runner Keon Broxton, who reached third on catcher Francisco Cervelli’s sacrifice bunt and came home for a 2-1 lead on first baseman Michael Morse’s base hit to right.
Lester and catcher David Ross were both lifted for pinch hitters in the Cubs seventh. Lester gave up two runs on five hits while striking out six and walking none.
Cole was pulled for a pinch hitter in the eighth as the Pirates put men on first and third on Cubs right-handed reliever Pedro Strop. Mercer scored from third to make it 3-1 on left fielder Starling Marte’s fielder’s choice grounder.
Cole allowed one run on four hits, struck out eight and walked a pair.
The Cubs had runners on first and second with two outs in the eighth but Rizzo struck out.   

Mets close in on divisional title
The National League East division title is so close, the New York Mets can just about taste the champagne.
Lucas Duda hit a pair of three-run homers, and rookie Noah Syndergaard tossed seven shutout innings helping New York reduce its magic number to one with a 12-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night at Great American Ball Park.
“When I first picked up a baseball when I was seven years old, (I) never thought that I’d be here at 23 pitching for the New York Mets in a postseason race,” Syndergaard said.
“I’m extremely blessed to be here. It’s an unbelievable feeling.”
Right fielder Curtis Granderson added a three-run homer off J.J. Hoover putting the Mets (87-67) in position to clinch their first NL East title since 2006 on Saturday afternoon with a victory over the Reds or a Washington Nationals loss.
“It’s a very exciting time,” Duda said. “Hopefully we can handle our business the next couple days and see where we’re at.”
Syndergaard (9-7) was sharp throughout Friday’s outing, allowing two runs on five hits with 11 strikeouts and no walks. He retired 16 straight in one stretch.