PITTSBURGH — The out-of-town scoreboard on the right field wall at PNC Park showed the Brewers in the early stages of a blowout victory in Cincinnati, and Cubs manager Joe Maddon took the next opportunity to sub out first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who had been playing through an injured ankle.
Just like that the chill of fall hit the Cubs on Wednesday night like a north-wind gust.
“It’s definitely a stinging feeling,” said Cubs starter Jon Lester after the Pirates sent the Cubs to their eighth consecutive loss by a 4-2 score Thursday. “It hasn’t happened too often for me.