There’s no way around it: coming back late to tie the game, only to see the bullpen blow it thereafter, is a thing that sucks.
The Cubs have done that thing three straight games now. That’s really tough to swallow.
It looked like the Cubs weren’t even going to have a chance in this one, with Jason Hammel laboring through an ugly three-run first inning, and failing to complete four innings. The bullpen was mostly solid from there (Trevor Cahill was awesome again, by the way), but a leadoff walk from Justin Grimm and a throwing error from Miguel Montero gave the Pirates the decisive run in the 8th.
Although I’m very disappointed by another late loss, I have mixed feelings, because the Pirates gave the Cubs a run in the first inning that looked exactly like the one the Cubs gave the Pirates in the 8th. And in the 7th, the Cubs tied the game after a couple runs scored on two wild pitches.
Just a frustrating loss, and the Cubs didn’t get much from a few key contributors.