Pirates Blow Big Early Lead in Loss to Cubs

Pittsburgh still wins the series over Chicago, but misses out on their second sweep of the season.

Apr. 12, 2026 at 9:28pm

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting featuring abstracted shapes and colors that represent the dynamic energy and tension of a baseball game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Chicago Cubs.A cubist interpretation of the dramatic back-and-forth between the Pirates and Cubs, capturing the game's shifting momentum through fragmented geometric forms.Today in Pittsburgh

The Pittsburgh Pirates had a great chance to earn another weekend series sweep, but poor pitching later in the game wasted a solid offensive effort. The Pirates lost 7-6 to the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on a walk-off in the ninth inning, which came after they held leads of 5-0 and 6-2, but still missed out on the win.

Why it matters

The Pirates are off to a strong start in 2026, but this loss shows they still have work to do to close out games and secure series sweeps against divisional opponents. Maintaining leads and finishing strong will be crucial for the Pirates as they look to make a push in the NL Central.

The details

Brandon Lowe had a big game for the Pirates, hitting two home runs and driving in five runs. Oneil Cruz also hit a leadoff home run. Bubba Chandler had a decent outing for the Pirates, going 5.1 innings and keeping the Cubs in check early. However, the Pirates' bullpen struggled, allowing the Cubs to come back and tie the game in the eighth inning before the Cubs won it in the ninth.

  • The Pirates lost 7-6 to the Cubs on April 12, 2026.
  • The Pirates had won the first two games of the series on April 10 and April 11.

The players

Brandon Lowe

Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman who hit two home runs and drove in five runs in the loss to the Cubs.

Oneil Cruz

Pittsburgh Pirates center fielder who hit a leadoff home run in the game.

Bubba Chandler

Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed starting pitcher who had a decent outing, going 5.1 innings and keeping the Cubs in check early.

Hunter Barco

Pittsburgh Pirates rookie left-handed pitcher who came in relief and got the Pirates out of a jam in the sixth inning.

Justin Lawrence

Pittsburgh Pirates right-handed pitcher who gave up the tying runs in the eighth inning.

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What’s next

The Pirates will look to bounce back in their next series against the St. Louis Cardinals, which begins on April 14.

The takeaway

This loss shows the Pirates still have room for improvement, particularly in their bullpen, as they look to maintain leads and secure series sweeps against divisional opponents. Consistent pitching and timely hitting will be key for the Pirates as they continue their strong start to the 2026 season.