Front Row Seat: Padres beat Cubs, force game 3 today

Section 1904 is a community-supported media company. If you like our content, considering either subscribing to support our work for as little as $5/month or dropping a tip in the jar.

Section 1904

Padres do everything right, stay alive with 3-0 win over Cubs

The San Diego Padres looked like the better team in game 2 of their Wild Card series against the Chicago Cubs.

Section 1904John Gennaro

San Diego Padres

Padres beat Cubs, even Wild Card Series; decisive game on Thursday - San Diego Union-Tribune
The Padres on Wednesday earned themselves at least one more game with a chance to earn at least one more series.

Their 3-0 victory over the Cubs, which evened their National League Wild Card Series at a game apiece, was accomplished with the best postseason start of Dylan Cease’s career and the usual contribution from their bullpen and because Manny Machado made a moment.

The teams will play a decisive game at 2:08 p.m. PT Thursday. The winner will advance to play the Brewers in the NL Division Series.

“It’s a do or die, same thing as today,” Machado said. “All hands are on deck, whoever it is. We’ve done it all year. I don’t think it’s going to be anything different. We’ve got to win to advance, so …”

In pivotal moment, Machado makes Cubs pay as Padres force Game 3 - MLB.com
On some level, Manny Machado was surely wondering if he’d make it into the right-handed batter’s box at all. First base was open. The Padres were clinging to a one-run lead. The matchup – Machado vs. left-hander Shota Imanaga – was not a favorable one for the Cubs.

But Machado did not let his mind go there. He completed his trek from the on-deck circle to the batter’s box in the fifth inning on Wednesday afternoon – and he did so without any requests from the Cubs’ dugout for an intentional walk. He dug in. His stay would be a short one.

On the first pitch, Imanaga grooved a splitter down the heart of the plate. Machado unleashed that trademark swing, ferocious but smooth. He stood on his right leg and leaned back – which usually means he knows it’s gone.

This Is As Close To Unhittable As A Pitch Gets - Defector
What, exactly, was Carson Kelly supposed to do with this—a 104.5 mph four-seamer precision-guided to the farthest, lowest corner of the strike zone? It was the fastest ball recorded in the postseason since they started pitch-tracking in 2008. Kelly had just fouled off the first two pitches inside, the second a 102 mph fastball that he barely got around on. He had to protect the near half of the plate; diving into a pitch could've been suicide. The previous day, Kelly had been looking fastball and chased a slider off the plate before being frozen by another. Miller didn't just paint the corner; he tinted it. The bat never left Kelly's shoulder. Miller said postgame it was the best fastball he's ever thrown.

Padres’ Mason Miller sets 2 postseason records in win over Cubs: ‘Have never seen dominance like that’ - The Athletic
“I was laughing a little bit today,” Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts said. “I mean, it’s not fair. Yeah, that ain’t it. It’s good to be on my side — it’s great. But as a hitter, nah. That ain’t it.”

Padres Strike Back Behind Dominant Bullpen, Force Game 3 in Chicago - FanGraphs
Robert Suarez and Jeremiah Estrada have only been used once each in this series, but Morejon and Miller have thrown more than 40 pitches apiece. I’m sure both will say they’re available to pitch for a third day in a row, but Shildt has to be wary of burning them out. If Game 3 is close and the Padres are leading, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Miller for an inning on Thursday. Thankfully, Suarez and Estrada won’t have any restrictions for that final game in the series, and Michael King could be available to pitch if necessary.

#78 Threes are wild - The Bandwagon
Adrian Morejon is the type of reliever who every team wants in October. A one-time starter, Morejon finished among the most valuable relievers in baseball despite his lack of closer cache. In this game, he cruised through seven batters and turned what could have been a series of dice rolls into one smooth ride that, crucially, makes future bullpen dice rolls less dicey.