The Reds put on a comedy of errors yesterday. They committed five as a team (three by Edwin Encarnación) that resulted in a 1-4 loss to the Cubs in Wrigley Field Wednesday afternoon.

Brandon Claussen took the mound, and he did OK. I think. It's really hard to tell how a pitcher does when the team commits five errors behind him. The box says he allowed four runs (three earned) on five hits through five innings.

Mike Burns took over the sixth and seventh innings and held the Cubs scoreless on three hits. David Weathers came in in the eighth to hold the Cubs hitless.

In the bottom of the first, the Cubs got on the board when Juan Pierre led off with a bunt single, and Derrek Lee walked two batters later. With Michael Barrett batting, the runners pulled off the double-steal, and then advanced again on a throwing error by Javier Valentín. Barret then hit a sacrifice fly to bring in Lee before the final out. Score: 0-2.

They were at it again in the third. Pierre reached when Scott Hatteberg couldn't handle a throw. Lee reached on a throwing error by Encarnación. The two again pulled of the double-steal, and when Barrett induced a fielding error by Encarnación, Pierre scored. Sigh. Score: 0-3.

Encarnación was responsible for the Reds' only RBI when he hit a double in the fourth to bring in Adam Dunn, who had walked. Does one RBI make up for three errors? No. But at least he prevented a shutout at the hands of the Cubs. Score: 1-3.

The Cubs got their final run in the fifth inning somehow. The GameDay won't load the bottom of the inning, and I can't research it right now lest I be late for work. Whatever happened, it was disheartening. Score: 1-4.

The loss brings the Reds' record to 5-3. Eric Milton takes on Carlos Zambrano today in the rubber game at 2:20 pm.