CHICAGO -- 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.
Sure enough, the baseball landed deep in the left-field bleachers at Wrigley Field -- a two-run home run that may have tilted the balance in this best-of-three National League Wild Card Series. At the very least, it sparked the Padres’ 3-0 victory and sent this series to a winner-take-all finale on Thursday.
“That's what postseason is about, man,” Machado said. “It's a beautiful thing to be playing here in front of these crowds and with what's at stake.”
In doing so, these Padres accomplished something no other team has accomplished in the brief history of the best-of-three Wild Card Series. They’re the first team to lose Game 1 on the road, then bounce back to win Game 2.
“To climb these mountains isn't easy,” Machado said. “You've got the best of the best playing right now who have all had helluva seasons and tremendous years. And this is why we're here. Just go out there, compete, enjoy it, and just leave it out on the field.”
Right-hander Dylan Cease set the tone with 3 2/3 innings in what was by far the best postseason start of his career. From there, Cease turned it over to San Diego’s super bullpen. Given its first lead to protect in the playoffs this year, that ’pen more than lived up to its name.
Adrian Morejon retired all seven hitters he faced on an efficient 33 pitches. Mason Miller continued his run of dominance by striking out the first five batters he faced. That included a painted 104.5 mph fastball to get Carson Kelly looking -- which might have a legitimate claim as the best pitch ever thrown. At the very least, it set the postseason velocity record in the pitch-tracking era (since 2008).
Closer Robert Suarez nailed down the four-out save to end it. On a day the Padres executed their pitching plans to perfection, one big swing was all they needed. Machado, fittingly, delivered it.
“Three-run lead is like an eight-run lead in the regular season,” said Fernando Tatis Jr., who leapt for joy between second base and third when the ball left Machado’s bat. “It was enough for us and for our pitching staff. I’m just happy for him. … He’s our guy.”
Machado has been their guy for the entirety of this era of Padres baseball. It’s an unprecedented era that has seen four postseason appearances in six years and consecutive playoff appearances for just the second time in franchise history. During that span, Machado has set franchise records in postseason home runs (eight) and RBIs (15).
“You just see him be nice, at ease and try to put a good swing, not try to do too much,” said manager Mike Shildt. “When Manny is in that spot, it's a lethal spot.”
Which brings us back to the fact that Machado was allowed to be in that spot in the first place. The top of the Padres’ lineup, which went 0-for-11 on Tuesday in Game 1, came to life in a big way on Wednesday.
Tatis and Luis Arraez both singled and executed a double steal to set up the game’s first run in the first inning. In the fifth, Tatis worked a one-out walk, before Arraez bunted him over. First base was vacant.
The Cubs had used righty reliever Andrew Kittredge as an opener for the first inning on Wednesdsay -- mostly in an effort to avoid Imanaga against the two powerful righties at the top (Tatis and Machado).
Right-hander Michael Soroka was ready in the bullpen. But Cubs manager Craig Counsell eschewed Soroka, instead mulling whether to walk Machado.
“Look, the results suggest that we should have done something different,” Counsell said afterward. “Really just confidence in Shota, plain and simple there. I thought he was pitching well. I thought he was throwing the ball really well, and unfortunately he made a mistake.”
Whatever machinations were taking place in Counsell’s mind, Machado said he approached the plate with one thought as to whether he would be hitting or walking.
“Hitting,” he said later. “For sure.”
And Machado promptly delivered the biggest hit of the Padres’ 2025 season.
So far.