Freefalling Pirates swept by Cubs

PITTSBURGH (AP) — One of the majors’ best stories only a month ago, the Pittsburgh Pirates are collapsing to the point they might not even be able to avoid shedding a dubious distinction they’ve carried for almost two decades.

Alfonso Soriano hit a two-run homer in the eighth inning to give the Cubs the go-ahead runs and Chicago completed a three-game sweep of the Pirates with a 4-2 win on Sunday.

Andrew McCutchen homered and Brock Holt had three hits for the Pirates, who have lost seven of nine and continue their freefall out of contention.

Pittsburgh (72-67) peaked at 16 games over .500 this season but now needs to go 9-14 just to avoid extending their North American major professional sports record of consecutive losing seasons to 20.

“We need to play better — that’s it,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “I’m not going to get up here and point fingers or this and that or say this... I’m telling you how I feel — we’ve got to play batter. And that’s it. And they know that.”

Entering play on Aug. 9, the Pirates were 63-47, held a 2 1/2- game lead for a wild card spot and sat 2 1/2 games behind NL Central-leading Cincinnati.

Pittsburgh has gone 9-20 since, is 11 behind the Reds and in fourth place in the wild card standings. The Pirates’ record is closer to the last-place Miami Marlins than it is to the Reds.

Despite it all, Pittsburgh remains within striking distance of a playoff spot.

“We know we’re still in it,” cleanup hitter Garrett Jones said. “Our confidence is still high.”

Chicago is 6-20 on the road since the All-Star break, with five of those wins coming at PNC Park. The Cubs had lost eight consecutive road games before this series.