The Cincinnati Reds are learning a tough lesson in Chicago: free passes are anything but free. Through the first 37 games of the season, walks have been a glaring Achilles' heel, with Reds pitchers ranking second in the league in issuing them. Wednesday's 7-6 walk-off loss to the Cubs was the most painful example yet, as reliever Brock Burke walked in the winning run with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth.

"I hear (pitching coach Derek Johnson) preaching about pounding the zone every day," Reds manager Terry Francona said. "We've got to improve. It's going to certainly help us win when we do."

The game-ending sequence was a dagger: on a 3-1 count, Burke missed badly against Cubs first baseman Michael Busch, forcing in the deciding run. "No matter what time of year it is, you've got to throw strikes," Burke admitted afterward.

It's a bitter pill to swallow, especially because this game was nearly a storybook victory. For seven-and-a-half innings, the Reds looked down and out. Then came a spark from an unexpected source: reliever Tejay Antone. Pitching in his first big league game since 2024, Antone is believed to be just the third pitcher in MLB history to return from a third Tommy John surgery. He considered retirement but kept pushing, and it paid off with a meaningful inning at Wrigley Field.

"It felt great," Antone said. "Super pumped in that moment. I came into the dugout and got a huge congratulations from my teammates. I walked to the end of the dugout and it hit me then. A couple of tears. I had to step away for a second. Wow. Amazing night. Amazing comeback. It's cool to continue writing the story. It's not over. It's just getting started again."

Inspired by Antone's resilience, the Reds rallied in the top of the ninth. Spencer Steer launched a homer to ignite the comeback, and Elly De La Cruz followed with a two-run sacrifice fly to put Cincinnati ahead. Matt McLain then made an incredible read from second base, showcasing his speed to score and give the Reds a two-run lead. For a moment, it felt like the turning point of the season.

But baseball can be cruel. With closer Emilio Pagán sidelined for four to six weeks due to a Grade Two hamstring strain, Graham Ashcraft entered in the bottom of the ninth looking for the save. He allowed a single and a game-tying homer on a three-ball count—yet another reminder of the Reds' ongoing command issues.

"It's been a tough road trip," Burke said. "We haven't been playing as well as we want. The bullpen hasn't been doing exactly what we want to finish games. It's a six-day stretch in a 162-game season. You try to brush it off and move on to the next."

This was a highly anticipated road trip for the Reds, facing two strong in-division rivals in Pittsburgh and Chicago. But as they enter the final day of this seven-game journey, they're still searching for their first win. For a team that prides itself on grit and resilience, the message is clear: throw strikes, or the losses will keep piling up.