Oct. 05--As the Chicago Cubs completed their 2015 regular season Sunday, the team's first postseason berth in seven years came with an unexpected bonus: a chance to steal home-field advantage in Wednesday's National League wild-card clash against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Just a week ago, many Pirates fans were optimistic the Bucs could still clinch the division, thanks to an eight-game win streak in late September that moved the team closer to the St. Louis Cardinals. But then the Pirates tripped up slightly, going 2-4 in the past week heading into Sunday's game against Cincinnati. The Cubs answered Pittsburgh's run with seven consecutive victories of their own since Sept. 27, closing the gap between the rivals to one game.
The Cubs did their job and beat the Milwaukee Brewers 3-1 on Sunday, extending their run to eight games. But it was not enough. The Pirates also won, beating the Reds 4-0 and squeaking out home-field advantage by one game.
Some Cubs fans said they were a bit disappointed the pivotal game would not be staged at Wrigley Field, but they remained confident -- thanks to the Cubs' stellar road record, their winning record against the Pirates in the regular season and ace pitcher Jake Arrieta being on the mound.
"It would have been nice to get the home field," said Curt Marcucci, of Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood. "But the way this team is playing, I have absolutely no fear of us playing any team in the National League at any field. We're in the right place at the right time with our pitching and our batting."
Drew Dickenson, of the Lakeview neighborhood, a lifelong Cubs fan, said he is excited to see the team doing so well. And Wednesday's game being in Pittsburgh will make his night at work much easier.
Dickenson, 30, works as a security guard at Murphy's Bleachers sports bar across the street from Wrigley.
"I'm actually thrilled," Dickenson said, as the Pirates were closing out the Reds. "I won't be having to deal with 40,000 fans here that night."
Should the Cubs get past the Pirates on Wednesday, they would hit the road for the division series against the Cardinals, champions of the NL Central for the third straight year.
"This has been fantastic," Marcucci said. "We've been waiting for this for a long time. And kids in Pittsburgh are going to feel the way we've felt since 1908. We're taking it."
For his part, Arrieta also sounds unfazed by the showdown in western Pennsylvania. After a Bucs fan trash-talked him on Twitter, telling him to be ready for the "sea of black," Arrieta threw back a zinger.
"Whatever helps keep your hope alive, just know, it doesn't matter," Arrieta tweeted.
cdrhodes@tribpub.com
