Cubs takeaways: What we learned in 4-3 road loss to Pirates
The Chicago Cubs entered Game 2 of their three-game set against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night looking to claim a seventh series win this season.
That will have to wait another day.
The Cubs let a late-game lead slip away in the seventh inning, when the Pirates scored two runs to claim a 4-3 win at PNC Park.
Here are three takeaways from the game, as the Cubs (18-13), who won the series opener 9-0, fell to the Pirates (12-18) and await Thursday afternoon’s rubber match against Pittsburgh ace Paul Skenes.
An April to remember
Despite entering April with the most difficult schedule in MLB and the final-day loss, the Cubs made easy work of the gauntlet that faced them.
They finished the month 15-9, scoring 141 runs, and entered Wednesday leading the NL in batting average (.263), slugging percentage (.456) and OPS (.799). Pete Crow-Armstrong, Carson Kelly and Seiya Suzuki each slugged six home runs to lead the offensive charge.
The Cubs gained control of the NL Central on April 4 and haven’t looked back since. They still own a two-game lead over the second-place Cincinnati Reds, who were swept in a doubleheader Wednesday.
Hot corner, hot issue
From Matt Shaw to Jon Berti to Vidal Bruján, the Cubs haven’t found a mainstay at third base this season. Shaw was sent back to Triple-A on April 15, leaving Bruján and Berti at the position.
Berti, who started Wednesday’s game, made a crucial error in the bottom of the seventh, misplaying a potential inning-ending double-play ball while the Cubs led 3-2. The inning continued, and Andrew McCutchen plated two runs on a double that bounced off shortstop Dansby Swanson to put the Pirates ahead 4-3.
Bruján also made a crucial mistake Sunday in the Cubs’ extra-innings loss to the Phillies, taking too long to throw to first base with Trea Turner speeding down the line. That allowed the Phillies to continue the rally and take both the game and the series.
Both the Cubs and their fans hope Shaw continues to improve in Triple-A as he looks to regain the job he won on Opening Day. Shaw is slashing .324/.452/.500 with one homer and four RBI with seven walks and just two strikeouts in nine games. He went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI with two walks Wednesday in Iowa.
Happ-y homecoming
Pittsburgh-area native Ian Happ loves playing at PNC Park. That much is obvious as he now has reached base safely in 43 consecutive games in the Pirates’ stadium.
Happ continued his streak with a second-inning single, and later added an RBI knock for the Cubs’ first run in their three-run fifth.
Happ has consistently raked against the Pirates since his rookie season in 2017. The Cubs left fielder owns a career slash line of .318/.401/.567 (.968 OPS) with 18 home runs and 71 RBI against the NL Central rivals.
Despite a slow start to the 2025 season, Happ hit .280 in April to bring his average up to .265 from .156 when the month began.