Afternoon Box Score: Cubs Lose Extra Inning Opener

By Chuck Sudo in News on Mar 31, 2014 9:40PM

Pittsburgh 1, Cubs 0 (10 Innings)
New Cubs manager Rick Renteria made history by becoming the first major league manager to issue an instant replay challenge when Jeff Samardzija was called out at first on a double play in a bunt situation. (True to Cubs form, the play was upheld.)

Samardzija didn't have his best stuff on the mound but the Cubs defense played well behind him with three double plays to keep the game scoreless. But the young team still showed some of the fundamental lapses that make the Theo Epstein-Jed Hoyer youth movement so maddening sometimes.

In the end, the Bucs spoiled Renteria's debut when Neil Walker homered off Carlos Villanueva in the 10th inning. Emilio Bonifacio was 4-for-5 with a double for the Cubs.