The Chicago Cubs fell 2‑1 to the Pittsburgh Pirates, marking a ninth consecutive defeat that ties the 2017 Los Angeles Dodgers for the most 10‑game streaks and a nine‑game skid in one season. Craig Counsell laments a lack of offensive spark and pitching consistency.

A 26‑year‑old Ben Brown delivered a solid outing, allowing only one run in six innings, yet the Cubs could not rally after Henry Davis’s 427‑foot homer gave Pittsburgh a decisive lead. The loss extends the franchise’s longest slide since a 10‑game winless run in 2022.

Offensively, Chicago managed just five hits beyond Busch’s solo homer, going 0‑for‑2 with runners in scoring position and leaving seven runners on base. The bullpen closed out the game, with Wilber Dotel earning his first win and Gregory Soto recording a perfect ninth.

With a 29‑25 record, the Cubs sit comfortably above .500 but now face a daunting stretch that could jeopardize their third‑place standing in the NL Central.