The latest game ever at Wrigley Field started Monday night and ended in the early hours Tuesday with the Pittsburgh Pirates defeating the Cubs 3-0 to gain a split of the four-game series.
The Cubs had only two hits, both from Darwin Barney, against Pirates starter Kevin Correia (11-9), who worked seven innings. Cubs starter Travis Wood (6-12) gave up only four hits and struck out a career high nine, but he took the loss.
Cubs pitchers struck out 15 in the game.
The game was scheduled to start at 7:05 p.m. Monday but was delayed 3 hours 37 minutes by rain. The 10:42 p.m. start was the latest ever at the ballpark that got lights in 1988. The game ended at 1:27 a.m. Tuesday.
Before Monday, the latest start time was the July 26, 2005 game that started at 9:48 p.m. and featured Greg Maddux’ 3,000th strikeout.
There is no longer a curfew for games, but there is for the Wrigley organ. It was not allowed to play after the game began but did play for the 7th inning stretch.
Only several hundred people were in the crowd, though the tickets sold totaled 33,017. The few who were sitting in the upper deck were encouraged to move to the lower seating areas.
Fans also were given a 25 percent discount on concessions for the game.
The game was played because the Pirates remain in contention for a National League wild card and did not have a remaining day off to reschedule the contest.
