The Cincinnati Reds are experiencing a brand of baseball heartbreak that's almost too painful to put into words—and yet, here we are. For three consecutive nights, the Reds have watched the Chicago Cubs celebrate walk-off victories at Wrigley Field, turning what was supposed to be a competitive four-game series into a brutal lesson in late-game agony. The last two losses have come in extra innings, adding an extra layer of sting to an already gut-wrenching stretch.

Wednesday's defeat, however, might be the toughest pill to swallow yet—at least for now. That's assuming this six-game losing streak doesn't find new ways to twist the knife. After falling behind early, the Reds found a spark in reliever Tejay Antone, who delivered a standout performance in his return to the big leagues. It's been over two years since his third Tommy John surgery, and his inning on the mound felt like more than just a comeback—it was an emotional lift for the entire team.

That energy carried over to the bats in the top of the ninth inning. Spencer Steer launched a leadoff homer, JJ Bleday came through with a clutch RBI single to tie the game, and Elly De La Cruz cleared the bases with a sacrifice fly so deep that Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki crashed into the wall trying to track it down. The Reds had roared back to take a 6-4 lead, and the dugout was buzzing.

But baseball has a cruel sense of timing. Closer Emilio Pagan had injured his hamstring the night before and was placed on the shelf for at least a month, leaving the bullpen in a scramble. Instead, Graham Ashcraft was called upon to close—a role he's had almost no experience with. He left a pitch over the heart of the plate, and Pete Crow-Armstrong sent it soaring to left-center field. The ball landed in the first row of the Wrigley Field bleachers for a game-tying homer. A homer that, in almost any other ballpark, would have been a routine out. Only at Wrigley.

The Reds couldn't plate the Manfred Man in the top of the 10th. Then, in the bottom half, they intentionally walked the bases loaded to set up favorable matchups for reliever Brock Burke. But Burke couldn't find the zone, and he unintentionally walked in the winning run, ending the game in the most frustrating way possible.

Three walk-off losses in a row. Back to back to back. For Reds fans, it's the kind of stretch that tests your loyalty—and your wardrobe. Maybe it's time to swap out that lucky jersey for something fresh. Because if there's one thing we know about baseball, it's that the next game is always a new opportunity. And the Reds are due for a change of fortune.