The San Diego Padres are hanging around the NL wild card but are now a game back from the final spot after losing to the Chicago Cubs on Monday.
The San Diego Padres lost another close game Monday, blowing a two-run lead to the Chicago Cubs before getting walked-off in the ninth inning to fall a game back from the final National League wild card spot.
The Padres got the scoring started in the third inning when right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. grounded into a fielder’s choice, knocking in shortstop Xander Bogaerts, who would drive in San Diego’s second run with a double in the fourth inning.
To this point, the Cubs had generated some traffic against struggling right-hander Griffin Canning but hadn’t broken through. But after running into more trouble in the fourth, right fielder Michael Conforto got one back for Chicago with an RBI single.
Designated hitter Seiya Suzuki, who has been swinging a hot bat recently, tied the game with a sacrifice fly on a wild play in which center fielder Jackson Merrill lost the ball in the lights but recovered to get the out. Suzuki was the hero in the ninth, taking a middle-middle slider from closer Mason Miller to the left field ivy.
Outfielder Jase Bowen came in to be a defensive replacement and nearly saved the Padres twice – with bases loaded and nobody out, first baseman Michael Busch hit a flyball to Bowen, who caught the ball and threw out shortstop Dansby Swanson at the plate to keep the game going.
He nearly came down with Suzuki’s ball, but he lost it on the way down, allowing the Cubs to take the opener and build its lead in the wild card.
Game 2 of the series will feature a pitching matchup between a pair of left-handers – San Diego’s JP Sears and Chicago’s Matthew Boyd.
Sears made his season debut in his last outing, earning a win after pitching 5.2 innings and allowing two runs on five hits and two walks while punching out five Atlanta Braves. He carries a 3.18 ERA and 1.24 WHIP into this meeting against Chicago, which hits southpaws fairly well.
Boyd made his first start since May 3 in his last outing, throwing 4.2 scoreless innings against the New York Mets and allowing four hits and four walks while fanning four in a no-decision. The former All-Star is 2-1 with a 5.02 ERA, 1.36 WHIP and 35 strikeouts to 10 walks through six starts (28.2 innings).
Both starters looked good in their first big-league starts in a while, and they could be in for a pitcher’s duel. San Diego needs Sears to be a stopper and even up the series.
First pitch is at 5:05 p.m. PDT on MLB.TV and regional sports networks.
