Just after the Cubs put together their really nice five-run eighth-inning rally to take a 7-6 lead over the Pirates Thursday afternoon, I asked myself the question: “Can this team get six outs without giving up a run?”
Turned out they couldn’t even throw one pitch without giving up a run. Michael Chavis hit David Robertson’s first pitch in the bottom of the eighth out of PNC Park to tie the game, and a bloop single to right off Scott Effross in the 10th gave the Pirates an 8-7 win and the Cubs their 14th loss in their last 17 games.