Padres beat Cubs 8-0 in Wild Card opener behind Michael King and early homers
San Diego took a 1-0 lead in the NL Wild Card Series, and the winner will face the MLB-best Milwaukee Brewers.
What we know
- San Diego beat Chicago 8-0 at Petco Park in Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series and leads the series 1-0. [1]
- Michael King was the winning pitcher and Matthew Boyd took the loss; Game 2 is Wednesday night at Petco Park. [1] [2]
- The series winner will play the Milwaukee Brewers, described by AP as the majors' best team, in the best-of-five division series. [2]
The San Diego Padres beat the Chicago Cubs 8-0 on Tuesday night in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series and lead the series 1-0, according to the box score [1]. Game 2 is Wednesday night at Petco Park. The winner of the series advances to face the Milwaukee Brewers in the best-of-five division series, The Associated Press reported [2].
Michael King, the winning pitcher, took a no-hitter into the seventh inning, according to AP. AP said King struck out eight over seven innings. Nico Hoerner broke up the no-hit bid with a one-out infield single, the Cubs' only hit off King [2].
The Padres scored twice in the first inning, then added a run in the third and another in the fourth, the box score shows [1]. Fernando Tatis Jr. homered on the first pitch of the game, the first leadoff homer in Padres playoff history, AP reported. Manny Machado followed with a homer of his own, the ninth postseason home run of his Padres career, a franchise record, according to AP [2].
Machado added an RBI double in the third, and Xander Bogaerts homered in the fourth off Cubs starter Matthew Boyd, AP said [2].
San Diego scored three runs in the fifth, the box score shows [1]. According to AP, Jackson Merrill hit a two-run single against reliever Javier Assad with the bases loaded, and Ty France scored on a passed ball. Tatis scored his third run in the seventh after a single, a stolen base and a throw that got away [2].
Joe Musgrove pitched the ninth in his first major league appearance since Oct. 2, 2024, AP reported. He struck out pinch-hitter Michael Conforto to keep the shutout intact, in his return from Tommy John surgery [2].
San Diego manager Craig Stammen, asked whether his postseason managerial debut could have gone better, said: "No, probably not." He added that the Cubs would "play their best game tomorrow," according to AP [2]. Chicago manager Craig Counsell credited the Padres' home crowd, AP reported [2].
Nick Pivetta (3-2, 2.86 ERA) is scheduled to start Game 2 for the Padres, and Kevin Gausman (4-2, 4.83) for the Cubs, according to AP [2].