The Chicago Cubs' 2012 season continued to hit a new low on Friday night, as they dropped their tenth game in a row in a 1-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Pirates scored on a second inning single from Rod Barajas that scored Pedro Alvarez, and that would be enough, as A.J. Burnett and a host of Pirates relievers were able to hold the lead.
What's worse for the Cubs, aside from being shutout, is that the team was unable to score despite pounding out ten hits. Part of the problem was that the all ten hits were singles, but Chicago still stranded multiple runners in scoring position. Burnett scattered six singles over 5.1 innings while striking out six, he was then followed by three of Pittsburgh's middle relievers before Joel Hanrahan closed the game out in the ninth by striking out David DeJesus and Starlin Castro with runners on first and third.
Cubs starter Ryan Dempster got pinned with the loss despite giving up only a single run in 7.1 innings. Dempster lowered his season ERA to 2.14 and his WHIP to 1.06.
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