End of Cubs' season hits center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong particularly hard

MILWAUKEE — Still dressed in his uniform, Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong lingered over the rail in the visitors’ dugout Saturday at American Family Field, watching as the Brewers celebrated.

The young All-Star was absorbing the moment. It was almost as though he was trying to find answers as to why the Cubs had been eliminated. Finality was setting in after a 3-1 loss to the Brewers in Game 5 of the National League Division Series.

Teammates came to give him a pat on the back, but his eyes never left the celebrating Brewers. As gold and blue streamers fell from the sky, Crow-Armstrong was helpless. His first taste of the postseason was over.

‘‘The fact that this team made it this far,’’ Crow-Armstrong said of what he’ll remember most. ‘‘I think we collectively lived through a lot of [expletive].’’

Crow-Armstrong declined to reveal what he was referring to, but he said he was proud of the perseverance the Cubs showed. Inside the visitors’ clubhouse, various players were giving each other hugs and having long conversations at their lockers before departing.

The Cubs leaned on their resilience and closeness as a team all season, but the reality of professional sports is roster turnover. This team, especially after losing in the NLDS, likely will not be back intact next season.

Crow-Armstrong was somber in his answers. Known for his energy and electrifying style of play, he was soft-spoken as he recapped the season.

‘‘That’s the worst part,’’ Crow-Armstrong said of the season being over. ‘‘We all go hug each other and stuff, but I don’t think that does it justice.

‘‘I guess it’s something I’ve got to get used to. I’m not going to go out and win a World Series every year of my career.’’

The Cubs finished the regular season 92-70. After winning a win-or-go-home Game 3 against the Padres in the NL wild-card series, they were outclassed in the first two games of the NLDS. But after rallying to win two games at Wrigley Field, the Cubs liked their chances in a deciding Game 5.

The Cubs’ offense, however, dried up at the most inopportune time. With runners on first and second and no outs in the sixth, the Cubs had the heart of their lineup coming up. Trailing 2-1 at the time, it was the perfect time to strike and take control of the game.

But a strikeout by Kyle Tucker, a lineout by Seiya Suzuki and a strikeout by Ian Happ ended the inning without any damage.

‘‘We had six baserunners tonight,’’ manager Craig Counsell said. ‘‘If you take Seiya’s homer and those two [in the sixth], that’s half our baserunners. . . . It’s really the only inning you could talk about. We just didn’t do much.’’

The clubhouse was dejected. After pushing through rotation injuries to Justin Steele and rookie Cade Horton and an offensive malaise after the All-Star break, the Cubs didn’t have an answer when it counted.

‘‘I’m disappointed,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘I’m sad. I think this did a lot to honor the Chicago Cub uniform.

‘‘But what did we do wrong tonight? That’s kind of what you’re stuck on.’’