Dansby Swanson didn't make excuses after the Chicago Cubs were overwhelmed by the San Diego Padres in Game 1 of their Wild Card Series.
The San Diego Padres couldn't have asked for much more from their postseason opener.
Even the Chicago Cubs admitted it.
Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson offered a blunt assessment after San Diego's 8-0 victory in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series on Tuesday night.
“They just did everything right,” Swanson said, according to The Athletic, “and we did everything wrong.”
It's hard to argue with him.
The Padres jumped on Cubs starter Matthew Boyd immediately, with Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado hitting home runs in the first inning. Xander Bogaerts later added another homer as San Diego turned the series opener into a rout.
Meanwhile, Michael King was nearly untouchable.
King carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning and finished with seven scoreless innings, allowing one hit while striking out eight.
San Diego had already scored seven runs before Chicago recorded its first hit.
But the lopsided victory gave the Padres another potentially important advantage entering Game 2.
They didn't have to use some of their most important relievers.
Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon, Jason Adam and Bradgley Rodriguez all remained in the bullpen as San Diego cruised through the final innings.
Instead, Yuki Matsui pitched the eighth before Joe Musgrove handled the ninth in his first major-league appearance since 2024.
That means the Padres can enter Wednesday night's potential series-clinching game with several of their best bullpen arms rested.
That's significant because the bullpen has been one of San Diego's biggest strengths. Miller and Morejon have been particularly important, with Miller even calling Morejon the most valuable reliever in baseball earlier this month.
The Padres also have history working in their favor.
Since MLB introduced the current best-of-three Wild Card Series format in 2022, teams that won Game 1 have advanced in 15 of 16 series.
The Cubs aren't conceding anything.
Swanson pointed out that an eight-run loss still counts as only one defeat, while veteran Alex Bregman said he believed Chicago could bounce back in Game 2.
But the Cubs will have to do it in a place where San Diego has been difficult to beat.
The Padres finished the regular season 51-30 at Petco Park and won 17 of their final 20 games overall.
They also won't need another 8-0 rout Wednesday night.
One more win will do.
