Featured image: Jackson Merrill in MLB’s coverage of his two-run single against the Cubs in Wild Card Game 1, September 29, 2026. Image: MLB.
CUBS 0 — PADRES 8
San Diego leads the series 1–0.
Final score and game statistics supplied by MLB.
King sets the tone in San Diego’s Game 1 win
SAN DIEGO — Michael King allowed one hit over seven scoreless innings as the San Diego Padres beat the Chicago Cubs 8–0 on September 29 at Petco Park to take a 1–0 lead in their best-of-three National League Wild Card Series.
King struck out eight and walked three. Yuki Matsui pitched a scoreless eighth, and Joe Musgrove completed the shutout in the ninth, striking out Michael Conforto with the bases loaded for the final out.
Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado hit solo home runs in the first inning to give San Diego a 2–0 lead. Machado doubled home Tatis in the third, and Xander Bogaerts added a solo homer in the fourth.
Padres pull away in the fifth
Jackson Merrill’s two-run single in the fifth brought home Luis Campusano and Machado. Ty France then scored on a passed ball to make it 7–0. Tatis added the final run in the seventh on a throwing error by catcher Carson Kelly.
The Padres finished with 13 hits. Chicago managed three, including two in the ninth, but could not break through against San Diego’s pitching.
Chicago faces elimination in Game 2
The Padres need one more win to advance. The Cubs must win Game 2 to force a deciding third game.
