CHICAGO _ Brian Duensing made his first trip to Wrigley Field on Friday.
But the eight-year big-league veteran relief pitcher's arrival to Chicago on an early morning flight came under unfortunate circumstances.
Duensing was activated from the disabled list to take the roster spot of fellow reliever Carl Edwards Jr., who was put on the bereavement list after the death late Thursday of someone close to him.
Cubs officials declined to say who died, but manager Joe Maddon expressed sympathy for the right-hander before Friday's 4-2 loss to the Pirates.
"Oh, my God," Maddon said. "It's horrible. He's such a good kid. Absolutely devastated by it.
"We'll just wait and see when he gets back. In the meantime, we'll hold down the fort. Awful."
Duensing, 34, had been on the DL to begin the season with lower back tightness.
Duensing, a free-agent signee, said he was in unfamiliar territory about 45 minutes after arriving Friday morning.
"I got a tour but I don't even know where I'm at right now," he said. "I need to go to the bathroom. I don't know if I can find it."
He found his way to the mound, though, where he struck out one and needed just eight pitches to get through the sixth inning.
Edwards has allowed a hit and three walks with four strikeouts in 42/3 innings this season.
