The Pittsburgh Pirates faced a disappointing loss against the Chicago Cubs, blowing a 5-0 lead to ultimately lose 6-5. Reliever Justin Lawrence took the blame for the defeat, stating his frustration over not being able to secure the win for his team. The Pirates had performed well in the first two games of the series, including a 2-0 shutout victory in the opener. However, in the finale, after leading by five runs, the Cubs rallied back. In the eighth inning, Lawrence allowed a two-out single that led to a run, followed by a throwing error from left fielder Bryan Reynolds, which allowed the Cubs to tie the game. The Cubs then walked off with the win in the ninth inning. Despite the loss, the Pirates maintain a strong position at the top of the NL Central with a record of 9-6 and will return to play against the Washington Nationals for a three-game homestand starting Monday.