A team that can’t afford any losses has now lost 3 straight games the latest in crushing fashion.

One strike away from picking up a much-needed win, the Cubs squandered a 2-run, 9th inning lead and fell to the Rockies 6-5 in Denver.

They’ve lost the series to the Rockies and move to 6 games back in the NL Wild Card race with 14 games to play — even running the table likely won’t be enough to play in October now.

Porter Hodge, the Cubs rookie who has developed into the team’s closer, surrendered just his second home run of the season, a 2-run shot with 2 outs in the 9th to pinch hitter Sam Hilliard. It came after a full-count walk to Hunter Goodman that had prolonged the inning.

In the 10th, with Cody Bellinger at second, the Cubs went down in order, failing to advance the right fielder. Charlie Blackmon advanced the Rockies automatic runner to third to lead off the bottom half of the frame and two batters later Brenton Doyle lined a ball to left field for the walk-off win.

It spoiled a lot of positive for the Cubs on Saturday night.

Jameson Taillon, who has been so strong for the Cubs this season, set the tone. He allowed 2 runs on 5 hits in 6-plus innings of work with 6 strikeouts.

“He gave us a chance for sure,” manager Craig Counsell told reporters after the loss.

And the Cubs offense had put them in a position to win, too. Bellinger and Pete Crow-Armstrong had solo home runs, Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Isaac Paredes and Bellinger all collected 2 hits. Seven of their starters recorded a hit.

It was shaking up to be a lead that could keep their playoff hopes on life support.

Instead, it was a loss that effectively pulled the plug on playing beyond September.