How can you not be romantic about baseball?

In the top of the ninth inning in Arlington, Rangers catcher Jonah Heim stood at home plate, confused as home plate umpire Chad Fairchild ruled what appeared to be a foul-tip a passed ball. This allowed Cubs first baseman Michael Busch to score, giving the Cubs a 3-2 lead over the Rangers.

A home run by journeyman Travis Jankowski in the bottom of the ninth inning tied the game at three-a-piece, setting up the ending fit for the ESPN billing that this game got.

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning, Heim called the game, and there was no arguing his single into the right-center field alley that gave Texas a 4-3 walk-off victory over the Cubs on Opening Day.

It wasn’t the result that the Cubs wanted, but damn is baseball poetic.

Christopher Morel went 2-5 on the evening with a triple. Seiya Suzuki picked up a double and Cody Bellinger had an RBI single.

To add insult to injury, Justin Steele injured his hamstring in the fifth inning, giving the Cubs a pair of losses tonight. Before the injury, Steele had allowed one run on three hits while striking out six and walking one.

Cubs skipper Craig Counsell said that Steele will have an MRI on his left hamstring but expects that he will be heading to the IL. It's a tough break for Steele and the Cubs tonight.

Putting aside the loss and Steele's injury, that was one heckuva ballgame to watch. It was a perfect Opening Day battle between the reigning champs and a Cubs team with championship aspirations.

A couple of takeaways:

• Mark Leiter Jr. was awesome. He allowed a couple of deep flyballs, but his splitter was on.

• Yency Almonte threw one too many sweepers to Adolis Garcia, who deposited one into the seats in deep left field.

• Christopher Morel looked good at the dish tonight. He picked up two hits, but he almost had a third when he belted a ball just left of the left field foul pole in the top of the 10th inning, just missing a go-ahead grand slam.

• Before the injury, Justin Steele looked like the ace that the Cubs were hoping for.

More Chicago Cubs from Bleacher Nation

• Michael has more on the Cubs’ loss to the Rangers in the Enhanced Box Score.

More Chicago Sports from Bleacher Nation

Chicago Bears

• Former Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze has a visit with the Bears coming up.

Chicago Blackhawks

• The Blackhawks lost 2-0 to the Ottawa Senators on Thursday evening. Tab has the story:

Chicago Bulls

• Eli takes a look at what the best scenario would be for the Bulls in the Play-In Tournament.

What’s on deck?

• Bulls @ Nets | 6:30 PM CT | NBC Sports Chicago