Padres’ Season Ends with Tough Loss to Cubs

The San Diego Padres wrapped up their season on Thursday night, falling 3-1 to the Chicago Cubs in the final game of the National League Wild Card Series.

As judges left Wrigley Field, a few Padres players were visibly upset, gathering around the dugout. They seemed taken aback, possibly frustrated with the officiating, particularly after a close call that really didn’t help their cause.

In the ninth inning, the Padres were struggling but managed to avoid a shutout thanks to a solo home run from Jackson Merrill. Following that, Xander Bogaerts faced a tense moment with a ball low from Brad Keller, but home plate umpire DJ Reyburn called it against Bogaerts, which drew some groans from the Padres’ side.

It’s worth noting that raises eyebrows. Manager Mike Schilt mentioned briefly how, in the future, the automatic ball and strike system might change the way such moments are perceived. Kevin Brown, the play-by-play announcer, mentioned that the automatic system would be implemented in 2026, hinting at a different landscape ahead.

However, the Padres had a missed opportunity when their top hitters—Fernando Tatis Jr., Luis Araúz, and Manny Machado—goose egged in this crucial game. They went 0-for-11 combined, which is, well, not great when you need your best players to show up the most.

Tatis expressed his disappointment, stating that they really did miss a significant opportunity in a game they needed to win.

Now, the Cubs advance to face their NL Central rivals, the Milwaukee Brewers, in the next round. Interestingly, Cubs manager Craig Counsel spent nine seasons with the Brewers before making the move to the Cubs, which adds another layer of intrigue to their matchup.