Cubs fall to Pirates 2-1 on June 14, 2025, wasting a gem from Cade Horton. Despite a clutch hit from Dansby Swanson, the bats went silent in a 10-inning loss.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a classic pitcher's duel at Wrigley Field, the kind that feels electric until the very last out. Unfortunately for the Cubs, that last out came with a sour taste as they dropped a 2-1 heartbreaker to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 10 innings, wasting a brilliant start from rookie Cade Horton and leaving a small army on the basepaths.
The Cubs managed just one run on six hits and left seven men on base.
The game was a nail-biter from the start, with Pirates ace Paul Skenes and Cubs rookie Cade Horton trading zeros. Horton was magnificent, pitching 5 2/3 shutout innings and allowing just three hits. The bullpen held the line until the eighth, when the Cubs finally broke through. A Kyle Tucker double set the stage for Dansby Swanson, who delivered a clutch single to tie the game at 1-1. But the magic ran out in extras. In the 10th, Isiah Kiner-Falefa's sacrifice fly off Drew Pomeranz was all it took for Pittsburgh to seal the win, silencing the Wrigley crowd.
A loss like this always stings, but let's take a step back. The Cubs still sit atop the NL Central with a strong 41-27 record. The long-term outlook is even brighter. Despite trading top prospect Cam Smith to acquire Kyle Tucker, the Cubs' farm system remains an MLB powerhouse, tied for the most Top 100 prospects with seven. Farm director Jason Kanzler emphasized the depth at Double-A and Triple-A, a clear sign that the organization has the assets to either bolster the current roster or swing another big trade. This team is built to win now and later.
There's no time to dwell on what could have been. The Cubs are right back at it Saturday, looking to even the series against the Pirates. Lefty Matthew Boyd gets the start for Chicago, bringing his stellar 5-3 record and 2.89 ERA to the mound. He'll face Pittsburgh's Mike Burrows (1-1, 5.00 ERA) in a matchup that heavily favors the North Siders. After going 5-5 in their last 10 games, a decisive win is just what the doctor ordered to get back on track.
Friday's loss was a tough pill to swallow, a classic case of one big hit making all the difference. While the team's foundation remains strong and the future bright, the immediate task is clear: the bats need to wake up and support the stellar pitching. All eyes will be on Matthew Boyd and the offense to even the series on Saturday and prove this frustrating loss was just a bump in the road.
