Chicago’s three-city swing ends in a gut-punch: a 4-3 walk-off loss at Oracle Park that completes a three-game sweep by San Francisco. The Cubs, now 76-58 and 6.5 games back of Milwaukee, must chase the Brewers down the stretch after a trio of quiet offensive showings against Logan Webb and the Giants’ bullpen. Shota Imanaga allowed three runs in seven frames, all on Willy Adames’ two homers, while Chicago couldn’t capitalize on scoring chances and even miscued a key eighth-inning baserunning play by Matt Shaw. The series underscored continued offensive inconsistency and the importance of every one-run moment with a tight margin for error ahead.

Hopes were tempered by the Coors Field trip as the Cubs head west, with Happ and company looking to rebuild at-bats and extract more run production from a lineup that’s shown flashes but hasn’t sustained it. Adames supplied the stinger, Happ offered leadership with tough at-bats, and the Cubs will need similar small-ball punch in Denver to keep pace in a crowded NL playoff picture.