The Javier Baez Show hit Wrigley Field Friday afternoon and the Cubs' uber-prospect electrified the crowd in the first inning with a single and a run.
But the Cubs couldn't do much after that, ultimately losing to the Tampa Bay Rays 4-3 in 10 innings.
After scoring on Starlin Castro's RBI single in the first, Baez struck out his next four times, including in the bottom of the 10th inning.
But the Wrigley faithful welcomed Baez with open arms, many getting there early for batting practice (during which he hit a light pole at the back of the bleachers in left field with one swing) and giving the 21-year-old slugger a nice ovation when his name was announced pregame.
Tsuyoshi Wada started the game for the Cubs and the 33-year-old rookie went six strong innings, departing after allowing a leadoff triple in the seventh inning, which ultimately came around to knot the score at 2.
After the Rays scored again in the eighth, the Cubs rallied in the bottom of the ninth on a Ryan Sweeney RBI single that just barely snuck under the glove of Tampa Bay second baseman Logan Forsythe.
Cubs closer Hector Rondon gave the Rays the lead back in the top of the 10th, allowing three straight hits, and the Cubs weren't able to do anything from there to drop the series opener.