SAN DIEGO — Aruban star Xander Bogaerts delivered when it mattered most, collecting two hits and an RBI as the San Diego Padres defeated the Chicago Cubs 4-1 on Wednesday night at Petco Park to sweep their best-of-three National League Wild Card Series and advance to the NL Division Series.
The fourth-seeded Padres followed up Tuesday’s 8-0 demolition in Game 1 with another commanding performance, holding the highest-scoring offense in the majors to a single run across 18 postseason innings.
Bogaerts sets the tone
San Diego broke through in the bottom of the second inning against Cubs starter Kevin Gausman. Ty France opened the frame with a double inside the third-base line, Jackson Merrill followed with an infield single and a stolen base, and Bogaerts lined a ground single to right field to score France. Twenty-year-old Ethan Salas — the youngest catcher ever to start an MLB postseason game — added a sacrifice fly to bring home Merrill for a 2-0 lead.
Chicago finally answered in the fourth when Nico Hoerner singled home Seiya Suzuki, producing the Cubs’ first — and only — run of the entire series. But with two on and one out, Padres manager Craig Stammen turned to his bullpen, and reliever Bradgley Rodriguez escaped a bases-loaded jam to preserve the lead.
Pinch-hitter Gavin Sheets then broke the game open in the bottom of the fourth with a two-run homer off Daniel Palencia, extending the advantage to 4-1.
Revenge a year in the making
The sweep carried extra weight because of recent history: just one year earlier, the Cubs had eliminated the Padres at Wrigley Field. On Wednesday night, San Diego returned the favor in front of 47,513 fans at Petco Park — and did it emphatically. After Michael King flirted with a no-hitter in Tuesday’s 8-0 Game 1 demolition, the Padres’ pitching staff never let Chicago breathe, while presumptive NL MVP Pete Crow-Armstrong went 0-for-7 with four strikeouts in the series.
Bullpen slams the door
From there, San Diego’s relief corps took over. The Padres bullpen combined for 5 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits. Jason Adam worked a flawless sixth, Adrian Morejon tossed two innings, and Mason Miller recorded his first career playoff save in the ninth.
Bogaerts finished the night with two hits and an RBI, while Merrill and France each added two hits and a run.
Revenge and a date with Milwaukee
The Padres now advance to face the top-seeded Milwaukee Brewers in a best-of-five NL Division Series beginning Saturday in Milwaukee.
For Aruba, the night belonged to Bogaerts — the island’s biggest baseball star continuing to shine on October’s brightest stage.
Source: NoticiaCla
