San Diego Padres Stave Off Elimination In Game 2 Against the Chicago Cubs

Well, that was a gut punch. The Chicago Cubs, after a triumphant Game 1, came crashing back to earth, getting shut out 3-0 by the San Diego Padres at a stunned Wrigley Field. Now, it all comes down to a do-or-die Game 3. Winner moves on, loser goes home to ponder what could have been.

Padres Pitching Silences Wrigleyville

The story of the game was the Padres’ pitching staff, who treated the Cubs‘ lineup like a screen door on a submarine. It started with Dylan Cease, who, despite not going deep, baffled hitters for 3.2 scoreless innings. He scattered a few hits, but the Cubs could never string anything together. It was like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube in the dark.

Then came the bullpen, and oh boy, did they bring the heat. Adrián Morejón and Robert Suárez were solid, but the real star of the show was Mason “The Exterminator” Miller. The guy came in and struck out all five batters he faced. Five! It was a dominant, almost cruel performance that left the Cubs’ bats looking like pool noodles. The San Diego bullpen allowed just two measly baserunners over the final 16 outs. You just have to tip your cap to that kind of dominance.

Machado’s Homer the Dagger for Padres

Offensively, the Padres didn’t need to do much, but they did just enough. They scratched a run across in the first inning after a shaky start from Andrew Kittredge, who gave up back-to-back singles to get things rolling.

But the real dagger came in the fifth. With a man on, Manny Machado stepped up against Shota Imanaga and did what superstars do in October. He launched a 404-foot, two-run missile into the bleachers that sucked the remaining life out of the ballpark. It was a classic Machado moment, and it provided all the insurance the Padres would need. For Imanaga, it was a rough outing, a continuation of his struggles against the top of San Diego’s order.

Now, the series is tied at one game apiece. The Cubs will face their old friend Yu Darvish in a winner-take-all showdown on Thursday. The Friendly Confines will be rocking, but after a performance like this, you have to wonder if the bats will wake up in time. It is win or go home, folks. No pressure.