In a tense finale at Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs held off the San Diego Padres 3-1 on Thursday night, clinching their first postseason series victory since 2017 and punching a ticket to the National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers. The decisive Game 3 of this best-of-three Wild Card matchup saw the Cubs lean on solid pitching and timely hitting, while the Padres' offense sputtered until a frantic ninth-inning push that fell just short.
Jameson Taillon set the tone early, delivering four scoreless innings to quiet a Padres lineup that had roared back with a 3-0 shutout in Game 2. Chicago's bullpen, retooled over the summer, took over from there—Daniel Palencia, Drew Pomeranz, and Andrew Kittredge combining for crucial outs amid mounting pressure. The Cubs scratched across three runs on 13 hits, including a home run from Michael Busch that provided some breathing room, but it was their defense that shone brightest. Shortstop Dansby Swanson's acrobatic plays, including a game-saving snag in the seventh, repeatedly robbed San Diego of momentum.
Indeed, the Padres looked poised for another comeback when Jackson Merrill crushed a leadoff homer in the ninth, trimming the lead to 3-1. Reliever Brad Keller then loaded the bases with back-to-back hit-by-pitches, hearts pounding across the North Side. But Kittredge steadied the ship, inducing a grounder and a flyout to seal the deal. For San Diego, it was a bitter end to a season of high expectations—they drop their series opener 3-1, split the next two, only to falter in the decider. Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. combined for little impact, underscoring the frustrations of a team still chasing that elusive World Series crown.
However, credit where due: the Cubs' resilience under Craig Counsell speaks to a rebuilt roster finding its stride at the perfect time. Moreover, Wrigley's electric crowd turned the night into a festival of relief and anticipation. As the Padres pack their bags, one can't help but wonder if this playoff exit will fuel a fiercer fire next spring, or expose deeper cracks in their championship pursuit.