San Diego Padres defeat Chicago Cubs in NL Wild Card opener

The San Diego Padres secured an 8-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs in the opening game of the NL Wild Card Series at Petco Park. The win was highlighted by a first-pitch leadoff home run from Fernando Tatis Jr., marking the first leadoff homer in Padres playoff history. Manny Machado also contributed with a home run and an RBI double in the first inning.

Padres pitcher Michael King delivered a dominant performance, striking out eight batters over seven innings and holding the Cubs to a single hit. The shutout was preserved in the ninth inning by Joe Musgrove, who made his first major league appearance since October 2024 following Tommy John surgery.

The series winner will advance to face the Milwaukee Brewers in a best-of-five division series. Game 2 is scheduled for Wednesday night at Petco Park.