Yu Darvish recovered well after surrendering a first-inning, three-run home run but could not earn his eighth straight win as the Chicago Cubs fell to a 3-0 defeat against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday.

Darvish (7-2) was tagged with his second loss and was left to lament the shaky start. The right-hander issued two walks in the first frame at Wrigley Field before Mike Moustakas went deep over the right-center field off a fat breaking ball.

Yu Darvish of the Chicago Cubs pitches against the Cincinnati Reds on Sept. 9, 2020, in Chicago. (Kyodo)

"I felt my body wasn't moving well in the bullpen," Darvish said. "But I couldn't afford to get discouraged so I changed my mindset and told myself that the game starts from here."

Darvish allowed an infield single to his Japanese compatriot Shogo Akiyama after the runs were scored, but no more hits over the next five innings on the mound. He struck out nine -- including three straight in the second -- while walking three.

Akiyama thought he had legged out another infield single in the fourth only to see the decision reversed. He went 2-for-4 with another single in the ninth off Cubs reliever Craig Kimbrel.

"(Akiyama) can see the trajectory of whichever breaking balls I throw. I didn't think I could get him to strike out," said Darvish, who has a 1.77 ERA in nine starts this season.

Akiyama, who is batting .220 in his first season with the Reds, said he feels like he is getting a better grip on hitting in the big leagues.

"I managed to hang in there despite going behind in the count after two pitches. I feel like I'm having more trips to the plate that I'm getting something out of," Akiyama said.

Trevor Bauer (4-3) threw 7-2/3 shutout innings and limited the Cubs to three hits while striking out 10 over his dominant 112-pitch outing.