Cubs down Padres in Recreation 3 to achieve NLDS vs. Brewers

CHICAGO — Pete Crow-Armstrong hit an RBI single off a shaky Yu Darvish, and the Chicago Cubs shut down Fernando Tatis Jr. and the San Diego Padres for a clinching 3-1 victory in Recreation 3 of their NL Wild Card Sequence on Thursday.

Backed by a raucous crowd of 40,895 at Wrigley Area, Chicago used its stellar defence to advance within the post-season for the primary time since 2017.

Michael Busch hit a solo homer, and Jameson Taillon pitched 4 shutout innings earlier than supervisor Craig Counsell used 5 relievers to shut it out.

After Brad Keller faltered within the ninth — permitting Jackson Merrill’s leadoff homer and hitting two batters — Andrew Kittredge earned the save by retiring Jake Cronenworth on a bouncer to 3rd and Freddy Fermin on a flyball to centre.

Subsequent up for Chicago is a matchup with NL Central champion Milwaukee for a compelling NL Division Sequence, starting with Recreation 1 on Saturday.

Counsell managed the Brewers for 9 years earlier than he was employed by the Cubs in November 2023, and he has been lustily booed in Milwaukee ever since he departed.

It was a disappointing end for San Diego after it made the post-season for the fourth time within the final six years. The Padres compelled a decisive Recreation 3 with a 3-0 victory on Wednesday, however their greatest stars flopped within the sequence finale.