In a nail-biting finish that had Wrigley Field on edge, the Chicago Cubs outlasted the San Diego Padres 3-1 in Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series on Thursday night. The victory, sealed under the bright lights of their historic home, propels the Cubs into the National League Division Series against the Milwaukee Brewers—a first postseason series win for Chicago since their 2017 triumph. Indeed, the tension built slowly, then exploded in the ninth, but the Cubs' defense held firm.
The game started strong for the home team. Shota Imanaga took the mound for Chicago, delivering a solid performance with seven innings of work, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out eight. His command kept the Padres' potent lineup, featuring stars like Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado, largely in check. On the offensive side, the Cubs scratched out their runs early: a two-run homer from Seiya Suzuki in the third inning gave them the lead they never relinquished, followed by a solo shot from Michael Busch in the fifth that padded the margin to 3-0.
Busch, the Cubs' first baseman, finished the night 2-for-4 with that crucial homer—his first postseason dinger—driving in the insurance run that proved vital. His steady bat has been a quiet force this series, batting .333 overall with four RBIs. Meanwhile, San Diego's Dylan Cease struggled, surrendering three runs in 4.2 innings, his fastball lacking its usual bite. The Padres mounted a desperate threat in the ninth, loading the bases with two outs against closer Porter Hodge, but he induced a game-ending groundout from Jurickson Profar to slam the door.
Defensively, Chicago shone brightest. Center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong made a spectacular diving catch in the eighth, robbing Tatis of extra bases and preserving the lead. It was that kind of night—flawed at times, gritty overall. However, the Cubs' bullpen, taxed throughout the series, showed resilience despite some shaky moments. The Padres, now eliminated, bow out after a valiant Game 2 comeback, but their road woes in playoffs persist.
For Chicago fans, this win revives memories of glory days, yet questions linger about sustaining momentum against a tough Brewers squad. What does this mean for the Cubs' deeper run?