Cubs Snap Dreaded 10-Game Losing Streak Behind Ian Happ's Heroics
The Chicago Cubs finally broke free from a 10-game losing streak on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, with a 10-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The win, which snapped the franchise's longest skid since 2012, was powered by Pittsburgh-area native Ian Happ, who delivered a two-run single in the first inning and a game-breaking three-run homer in the seventh. The Cubs scored six runs in that frame, turning a 4-4 tie into a rout and ending what manager Craig Counsell described as a "monkey on your back" for the entire organization.
Happ's performance was not a one-night wonder. In the series finale on Thursday, May 28, the Cubs again leaned on their left fielder to secure a 7-2 win, splitting the four-game set at PNC Park. Happ singled and scored in the fourth inning to give Chicago a 1-0 lead, then delivered an eighth-inning homer that keyed a three-run outburst. The back-to-back wins marked the Cubs' first winning streak in over two weeks, pulling their record to 31-26.
"Just staying really focused on the process, what I was looking for," Happ said after Wednesday's game, describing a critical at-bat against Pirates starter Bubba Chandler. "To foul a couple of those off, stay in the at-bat and get something I could handle and execute, deliver — just an awesome at-bat right there."
The Weight of the Streak: Cubs' Offensive and Pitching Woes
The 10-game losing streak was tied for the second longest in Major League Baseball this season, and it exposed deep flaws that had been masked by an earlier 20-3 hot stretch. During the skid, the Cubs posted the worst starting pitcher ERA (8.46) and the worst batting average (.185) in all of baseball. In the final six games of the streak, they managed just 10 total runs — the same number they scored in Wednesday's single-game outburst.
Despite the collapse, Chicago entered June still four games over .500 (30-26) and very much alive in the tight NL Central race, where every team was above .500. The Milwaukee Brewers led the division, but the Cubs' quick rebound offered a lifeline. The series in Pittsburgh also marked a significant test against elite competition: on Thursday, the Cubs faced reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes, who struck out 10 batters over 5.1 innings. Happ's ability to scratch out hits against him — a single in the fourth and an infield single in the sixth — proved crucial in building an early lead.
Manager Craig Counsell emphasized the emotional toll of the streak. "The room needed it," he said. "We all needed it." Outfielder Michael Conforto added, "You do have to enjoy it, and you do have to celebrate with the guys. We got back in the win column."
Perspective: What This Streak and Response Mean for the Cubs' Season
The Cubs' ability to immediately reverse course after a 10-game losing streak says as much about their resilience as it does about the volatility of a 162-game season. Their 20-3 run earlier in the year showed they can hang with anyone; now, they've proven they can stop a free fall before it defines their year. Happ, a Pittsburgh native who grew up watching the Pirates, has become the emotional and offensive engine of this team, delivering in two high-leverage games that could have easily spiraled into an 11th or 12th straight loss.
More broadly, Chicago's quick recovery highlights the importance of veteran leadership and situational hitting. During the streak, the Cubs' inability to deliver with runners in scoring position was their most glaring weakness. Happ's two-run single and three-run homer on Wednesday were exactly the kind of clutch moments that had been missing. If the Cubs can sustain that approach, they remain a legitimate threat in a wide-open division.
The upcoming schedule eases slightly in June, but the Cubs are well aware that nothing is guaranteed. As their starting pitcher from Wednesday noted, "It's still pretty fresh that we lost 10 in a row." The team will now look to build on its "baby winning streak" and prove that Wednesday's breakout was a turning point, not just a temporary reprieve.
Happ's Homecoming and the Cubs' Road Ahead
Playing in his hometown, Ian Happ has often performed well at PNC Park, but this series was something special. His two home runs in two days — one that ended a historic slump, another that sealed a series split — have made him the face of the Cubs' resurgence. For a team that started the season with sky-high expectations, then hit a devastating low, Happ's timely hitting has provided a blueprint for success: work the count, drive the ball, and celebrate the small wins.
The Cubs leave Pittsburgh with momentum, but also with a reminder of how quickly things can change. Their 10-game winning streak earlier this year was followed by an equally stunning collapse. If they can learn to avoid such extreme swings, the NL Central — and perhaps October — remains within reach.
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