Any hopes of a deep October run come down to Thursday.
The Chicago Cubs face a win-or-go-home Game 3 against the San Diego Padres after a 3-0 loss tied the best-of-three National League wild-card series Wednesday in front of 41,083 fans who were left waiting for a moment to erupt and energize Wrigley Field.
The Cubs’ lack of offense again created a slim margin for error. They didn’t have much of an answer for Padres starter Dylan Cease or San Diego’s notoriously tough bullpen. On a quiet day for the lineup that produced just four hits — one after the fourth inning — manager Craig Counsell’s pitching decisions come under scrutiny.
Veteran reliever Andrew Kittredge served as the opener for the Cubs and avoided a potentially disastrous first inning after surrendering back-to-back singles to begin the game. Kittredge ultimately allowed one run on Jackson Merrill’s sacrifice fly that followed a double steal by the Padres.
Left-hander Shota Imanaga entered to the start the second and went four innings, giving up two runs, three hits and two walks while striking out three.
The pivotal moment came in the fifth as the Cubs trailed 1-0.
Game 2 photos: Chicago Cubs vs. San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field
Counsell had opted for Kittredge to start the game to limit Imanaga’s exposure against the top of the Padres lineup, specifically right-handed sluggers Fernando Tatís Jr. and Manny Machado. But when San Diego’s order turned over in the fifth, Counsell stuck with Imanaga rather than call on right-hander Michael Soroka, who had been warming since the start of the inning.
Tatís worked a one-out walk and Luis Arráez put down a sacrifice bunt to advance Tatís into scoring position for Machado with two outs. Rather than intentionally walk Machado or bring in Soroka, Counsell let Imanaga stay in to face the Padres star.
Machado immediately made the decision hurt.
Imanaga left a first-pitch splitter over the middle that Machado crushed into the left-field bleachers for a no-doubt, two-run homer and a 3-0 Padres lead.
The Cubs had only two baserunners after the fourth inning: Michael Busch’s hit by pitch with two outs in the eighth and Kyle Tucker’s one-out single in the ninth — their first hit since Seiya Suzuki doubled with two outs in the fourth. But Tucker was erased as Suzuki grounded into a game-ending double play.