The blue and gold streamers fell onto American Family Field as the Milwaukee Brewers rushed out of the dugout following the final out of the Chicago Cubs’ 3-1 loss in Game 5 of the National League Division Series that abruptly ended a journey that started eight months ago .

While their postseason drought ended, the Cubs face another offseason trying to figure out how to make a run to the World Series. Putting the season in a big-picture context became difficult postgame for the emotionally-raw Cubs players. Nico Hoerner was among the players, coaches and staff to initially linger in the visitors dugout staring at the Brewers’ on-field hugs and cheers they fully expected to be partaking in.

“The last out of a season is a strange thing when” — Hoerner said, pausing to collect his emo

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