The Cubs erased a three-run deficit and survived a late Padres rally to win 5-4 at Petco Park, a game that changed hands twice before Chicago held the final margin.
Jameson Taillon anchored the Cubs' comeback with seven innings of three-run ball, allowing just three hits while striking out six. The right-hander carried a 4.41 ERA into the game and earned his second win of the season, working efficiently on 95 pitches to give Chicago the length it needed.
The decisive moments came in a wild fifth inning that saw the game flip completely. Miguel Andujar homered to left to put San Diego on the board, but Nick Castellanos answered immediately with a two-run shot to left center that scored Jake Cronenworth and tied the game at 3-3. Chicago regained the lead in the sixth when Pete Crow-Armstrong grounded out to first, bringing Michael Conforto home. Matt Shaw added insurance in the eighth with a solo homer to left.
Matt Waldron struggled through five innings for San Diego, surrendering six hits and three runs while striking out just one. Adrian Morejon took the loss after allowing Shaw's decisive homer in the eighth, lasting just two-thirds of an inning. The Padres managed a late response when Fernando Tatis hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Castellanos, but could not find the tying run.
Chicago improved to 18-12 and snapped a losing streak. San Diego fell to 19-10 with the loss. Morejon is one game away from 200 career appearances.