The year is 2021, but it sure felt like 2015 on Thursday.
Solo home runs by Kris Bryant, Javy Báez and Anthony Rizzo supplied the Cubs all the offense they needed, and Jake Arrieta threw six innings of two-run ball to take down the Pirates 4-2.
"It felt a little bit like '15, with Jake on the bump in the Wild Card Game," said manager David Ross, referring to Arrieta's complete game shutout in the postseason that year, part of a Cy Young season for the right-hander.
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"That's probably the best memory I have of this place. That's the first thing that came to mind."
Actually, for all the 2015 vibes, Thursday felt much like 2017 as anything. That was the last season of Arrieta's first Cubs tenure, and the last time Bryant, Báez and Rizzo hit home runs in the same game.
Thursday marked the fifth time they've ever done so. The Cubs are now 5-0 in those games, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
"It's nice to get the big boys going," Ross said of the three core Cubs hitters. "When they have a good day, we've got a really, really good offense and a good chance to win that day."
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"The skill level is high, and when the situation calls for it, guys like that step up to the plate and produce," Arrieta said.
"No surprise, but happy as hell that those three guys were a big part of our success [Thursday]."