San Diego Padres Rally to Defeat Chicago Cubs 5-3 at Wrigley Field, Even Up Record

ParallelDesk 01:04:29 PM, 27 April 2023

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After a rocky start to the season, the San Diego Padres have seemingly found their footing, evening up their record to .500 after defeating the Chicago Cubs 5-3 on Wednesday night at Wrigley Field. The Padres trailed 3-2 with two players on base and one out in the top of the seventh inning when Fernando Tatis Jr. stepped up to the plate, rallying the team to victory with a two-run single in-between third base and shortstop. The hit scored Ha-Seong Kim and Trent Grisham, setting San Diego on a course for success. Tatis continued to deliver for the team with an RBI in the ninth inning, singling home Nelson Velasquez on a sharp hit to center field. Tatis Jr. went 2-for-5 in the game, which helped raise his batting average to .222 since re-joining the San Diego Padres on April 20. Overall, the Padres logged nine total hits off of Chicago Cubs pitching, with Tatis and Kim leading the way with two hits apiece. Nick Martinez picked up the win after delivering three innings of scoreless relief. Starter Michael Wacha surrendered three earned runs on four hits in five innings. Closer Josh Hader got a bit wobbly in the bottom of the ninth, but he held on for his ninth save of the season. San Diego’s win wasn’t just about the players who performed well—superstars Juan Soto and Manny Machado continue to disappoint. Soto, who was acquired in a big trade in 2022, is currently hitting .178 on the season after going 0-for-5 with three strikeouts against the Cubs. Meanwhile, Machado, the runner-up to the 2022 National League Most Valuable Player award, is hitting just .214 following a 1-for-4 outing at Wrigley Field. Despite their struggles, the team seems to be coming together, with fans taking to Twitter to share their optimism. The Padres have won four of their last six games and are now just one game behind the National League West-leading Arizona Diamondbacks. San Diego and Chicago will have a rubber match of their three-game series on Thursday afternoon, with Seth Lugo starting on the mound for the Padres and Hayden Wesneski pitching for the Cubs.