Pirates 4, Cubs 3: This space intentionally left blank

I’m not sure what to think of the Cubs’ frustrating 4-3, 11-inning loss to the Pirates Saturday afternoon at Wrigley Field. Should I be unhappy because they lost, and part of the reason was a player playing his first game at first base — ever? Or should I take some solace in the fact that they came back from a 3-0 deficit with a stirring ninth-inning rally, and Cubs pitching held the Pirates down after the third inning?

(Well, at least until that ugly 11th. ) It’s kinda both, but this one does leave a sour taste. Let’s begin at the beginning.

Edward Cabrera wasn’t as sharp as he had been over his first two starts, and issued three walks in addition to allowing eight hits. That gave the Pirates a 3-0 lead after three, and it could have been more, but they left several runners on base early and the Cubs turned a double play in the second. Meanwhile, Braxton Ashcraft kept the Cubs completely off balance for the first four innings.

They had three singles over that time, with none of the runners getting past first base. The Cubs broke through in the fifth. Michael Conforto walked with one out and went to third on a single by Dansby Swanson, and Swanson took second on the throw in.