The San Diego Padres opened their NL wild-card series against the Chicago Cubs with an 8-0 shutout at Petco Park on Tuesday, taking a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three matchup. Padres starter Michael King nearly threw a no-hitter before giving up his first and only hit in the seventh inning to Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner. Fernando Tatis Jr. led the Padres’ offense, hitting a three-run homer in the bottom of the first inning that set the tone for the game.
King’s performance dominated the Cubs lineup for six-plus innings, striking out multiple batters and keeping Chicago off balance. The Padres’ pitching combined with timely hitting ensured the Cubs had little chance to respond as San Diego controlled the pace from the outset.
The Cubs face a must-win situation in Game 2 Wednesday night at Petco Park to keep their season alive. Chicago will start right-hander Kevin Gausman, making his first postseason appearance with the club after a midseason trade from the Toronto Blue Jays. Gausman finished the regular season with a 9-12 record and a 4.51 ERA.
San Diego will counter with right-hander Nick Pivetta, who posted a 3-2 record and a 2.86 ERA during the regular season. The Padres will look to build on their momentum and close out the series on home turf.
Game 2 is scheduled to begin at 10 p.m. Eastern Time and will be broadcast on Peacock and NBC Sports Network. Fans can also follow live updates and highlights through Yahoo Sports as the Padres host the Cubs in this decisive wild-card matchup.
The series so far has highlighted San Diego’s pitching strength and timely offense, with Tatis Jr.’s early homer setting the tone for a dominant outing. Chicago will rely heavily on Gausman to stifle the Padres’ bats and give their offense a chance to respond. The outcome of Wednesday’s game will determine who advances in the postseason and who ends their season at Petco Park.
According to Yahoo Sports.