Cubs Shuffled Out Of Postseason By Rockies In NL Wild Card Game

CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs were able to push Tuesday's National League Wild Card game into extra innings, but they couldn't pull out a win against the Colorado Rockies, losing 2-1. An unlikely hero, Rockies backup catcher Tony Wolters, dealt the killing blow to the North Siders with a two-out RBI single in the 13th inning.

At just more than five hours, Tuesday's game was the longest postseason game played at Wrigley Field. It was also the longest win-or-go home game in Major League Baseball history.

The one-run loss was the second in a row for the Cubs. On Monday, they lost to the Milwaukee Brewers — and lost the NL Central title — in a 163rd game tiebreaker. It also was the 40th time this year that Chicago lost a game by one or fewer runs.

Offense, however, was at a premium for both teams in the game. Rockies third baseman Nolan Arenado knocked in the first run with a sacrifice fly in the first inning. But that was all the scoring until the eighth inning as starting pitchers Jon Lester and Kyle Freeland kept the bats quiet for six and six ⅔ innings, respectively.

The Cubs were finally able to get on the board in the eighth thanks to a double by shortstop Javier Baez. That scored pinch runner Terrance Gore, who had stolen second earlier.

But that was it for Chicago's scoring production in the game. And while a battery of Cubs pitchers — including starting pitcher Cole Hammels — kept the Rockies at bay for four innings, Wolters, who hadn't had a hit since Sept. 10, hit the third consecutive single off starter Kyle Hendricks, which scored shortstop Trevor Story.

The Rockies now travel about two hours north to face the Brewers on Thursday in the NL Division Series. The Cubs, unfortunately, must sit at home and wait for next season.

Chicago Cubs shortstop Javier Baez reacts after hitting an eighth inning, RBI double against the Colorado Rockies in the National League Wild Card game Tuesday, Oct. 2, at Wrigley Field. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel | Getty Images)