Yes, the Chicago Cubs finally won a World Series in 2016, but the Curse of the Billy Goat briefly revived itself Wednesday night at Wrigley Field.
The Cubs, needing a win to stay in first place in the National League Central, held a two-run lead on the Pirates with one out in the ninth inning when Pittsburgh’s Francisco Cervelli hit a pop fly near the stands.
Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo ranged over and actually got his glove on the ball, but a fan in the front row essentially ripped it away, negating a potential out and giving Cervelli another life.
Any Cubs fan — or any casual fan who recognizes the name Steve Bartman — will find this play eerily similar to Bartman’s infamous interference incident in 2003.
Sure enough, Cervelli ripped a double two pitches later, and Starling Marte tied the score two batters after that with a two-RBI double.
Here we go again, right?
But this is the post-curse Cubs we’re talking about, and Chicago saved this poor man from ridicule. In the 10th inning, Albert Almora Jr. delivered a walk-off single to lift the Cubs to a 7-6 win and clinch the team’s fourth consecutive playoff berth.
While Chicago is guaranteed a spot in the playoffs, it still is locked in a tight battle with the Brewers for the NL Central crown, as Milwaukee trails by just a 1/2 game.
