Cubs earn 3-1 victory over Padres in winner-take-all Game 3, advance to face Brewers in NLDS
(670 The Score) The Cubs are moving on to the National League Division Series.
The Cubs beat the Padres, 3-1, on Thursday in a winner-take-all Game 3 of their NL wild-card series at Wrigley Field. It marked the Cubs' first postseason series victory since the 2017 NLDS.
Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong started the scoring for his team with an RBI single to center field in the bottom of the second inning. Shortstop Dansby Swanson then drew a bases-loaded walk to make it 2-0.
With the Cubs leading 2-0 in the bottom of the seventh inning, first baseman Michael Busch blasted a solo home run to right-center field to extend the lead.
Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill hit a solo home run in the ninth inning for San Diego's lone run of the game.
The Cubs received four shutout innings from right-hander Jameson Taillon, their starting pitcher. Manager Craig Counsell then leaned on relievers Caleb Thielbar, Daniel Palencia, Drew Pomeranz, Brad Keller and Andrew Kittredge, who earned the save in a nerve-racking ninth inning.
After Keller hit back-to-back batters to put runners at first and second with one out in the ninth, Kittredge entered in relief and induced a groundout that advanced the Padres runners to second and third. Kittredge finished the game off by getting Padres catcher Freddy Fermin on a flyout to center field as the tying runs were in scoring position.
The Cubs will now meet the division rival Brewers in the NLDS. Game 1 is scheduled for Saturday in Milwaukee. First pitch time is still to be determined. All Cubs games can be heard on 670 The Score and on the Audacy app.
