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Padres Dominate Cubs 8-0 in Game 1
Confirmed
In Short: Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a first-pitch home run to set the tone for the San Diego Padres' 8-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series.
Tatis's blast off Matthew Boyd's changeup was the first leadoff home run in Padres postseason history and sparked a raucous crowd at Petco Park.
Two batters later, Manny Machado followed with another home run, extending San Diego's lead to 2-0.
Padres starter Michael King dominated the Cubs, striking out probable NL MVP Pete Crow-Armstrong with the game's first three pitches.
San Diego's offense continued to pile on, with Xander Bogaerts and Jackson Merrill adding home runs and an RBI double.
The Padres' pitching staff combined for a three-hit shutout, with King earning the win after six innings.
The Cubs, who scored the most runs in baseball this season, were held to just three hits and four runs allowed by King.
Padres manager Craig Stammen praised King's performance, saying, 'It was just an overall dominating outing by him.
King expressed confidence in his ability to perform in high-pressure situations, stating, 'It gives me confidence knowing the team has confidence in me to pitch in these games.
What this adds
The Padres' victory marked their largest playoff shutout in franchise history.
The Cubs must now quickly move past their Game 1 performance to extend their season.
Kevin Gausman will start Game 2 for the Cubs, while Nick Pivetta will take the mound for the Padres.
Background
Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a first-pitch home run to set the tone for the San Diego Padres' 8-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series.
What's confirmed
- Boyd had not thrown a first-pitch changeup to begin a start in 56 games, dating to Game 3 of the 2024 American League Championship Series, when he delivered one to Fernando Tatís Jr. in the bottom of the first inning.
- He had suppressed the long ball in September, not allowing a home run in five starts spanning 29 2/3 innings.
- The throwing error allowed Tatís to score from second, easily beating Ian Happ’s throw home.
- The Cubs did not have many options to start Game 1 when they ultimately settled on Boyd, who finished with four runs allowed on five hits, one walk and struck out four.
- Game 1 photos: Chicago Cubs at San Diego Padres The Cubs found ways to survive last postseason, winning three elimination games before their journey ultimately concluded in the decisive Game 5 of the National League Division Series.
- SAN DIEGO — The Chicago Cubs must quickly move past an all-around ugly showing to extend their season.
- Their postseason turned into a nightmare almost immediately in the Cubs’ 8-0 loss in which they were held to three hits during Game 1 of the wild-card series Tuesday night against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.
- Tatís seemed ready for it, crushing a 405-foot first-pitch home run to set off a frenzy among the 47,084 fans.
- Two batters later, Manny Machado didn’t miss his 0-1 changeup, going deep for a 2-0 Padres lead.
- Boyd had surrendered six home runs off his changeup (546 thrown) in the regular season.
- As for whether he felt the Padres kept looking for his changeup, Boyd acknowledged that possibility: “I’m sure they were.” While the Padres kept ambushing Boyd’s changeup, the Cubs went 6 1/3 innings before managing a hit off Michael King on Nico Hoerner’s infield single down the third-base line.
What's still developing
- Meanwhile, the Padres got off to a fast start as leadoff hitter Fernando Tatis Jr. crushed a first-pitch changeup over the center field wall.
- It might has well have been 10-0 Padres at that point the way King was pitching.
- There was a big moment in the top of the ninth when Padres manager Craig Stammen called on Joe Musgrove out of the bullpen.
- Three Padres pitchers combined for a three-hit 8-0 shutout in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series.
- Nico Hoerner got the Cubs' only hit off King with a one-out infield single in the seventh, but King racked up two more strikeouts to earn the last of several standing ovations from the raucous sellout crowd watching his third career playoff start.
- Nick Pivetta (3-2, 2.86 ERA) starts Game 2 for the Padres in his fifth game back from a near five-month absence with a right elbow injury.
- Manny Machado also homered in the first inning and added an RBI double in the third during an emphatic opening statement by the 91-win Padres.
- "They had a lot to cheer about tonight, and we didn't give them anything to be quiet about." Game 2 is Wednesday night at Petco Park.
- Chicago had just one hit before getting to Joe Musgrove, the Padres veteran making his first major league appearance since Oct.
- The Cubs got two singles and a walk before Musgrove struck out pinch hitter Michael Conforto to preserve the shutout in his return from Tommy John surgery.
- So on Tuesday night, the Padres started their own count.
- Four pitches into Machado’s first plate appearance, the Padres third baseman launched another homer and Petco Park was shaking beneath 47,084 fans, including actor Bill Murray.