Chicago did its damage early and held on. The Cubs erupted for four runs in the second inning and added three more in the fifth, building a cushion that proved just large enough to survive a four-run San Diego eighth. Final score: Cubs 9, Padres 7.
Dansby Swanson was the engine of the Chicago offense, going 3-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI. His solo shot to center in the second inning — 432 feet — gave the Cubs the lead for good. He added a two-run homer to left center in the fifth, a 437-foot blast that scored Ian Happ and pushed the lead to 8-3. Alex Bregman contributed a three-run homer to left center in the second, a 415-foot drive that scored Alcántara and Crow-Armstrong and turned a one-run game into a 5-1 advantage. Pete Crow-Armstrong added a solo shot to right center in the sixth to make it 9-3.
The second inning was the turning point. Swanson's go-ahead homer opened the frame, and Bregman's three-run blast followed to put Chicago firmly in control. Michael Busch contributed a solo homer to right center in the fifth to extend the lead before Swanson's second home run capped the inning. Fernando Tatis had opened the scoring with a 425-foot homer to left in the first, but Carson Kelly's single to center — scoring Seiya Suzuki — tied it before Chicago took over.
JP Sears absorbed the loss, his first of the season, allowing 7 runs (6 earned) on 8 hits over 4.2 innings, walking 3 and striking out 4 on 95 pitches, with a 6.97 ERA. San Diego made the final innings interesting — Gavin Sheets hit a three-run homer to right center in the eighth, and Tatis added a solo shot — but the Cubs' lead was too large to overcome. Matt Boyd earned his third win against one loss, going 5.0 innings and allowing 3 runs on 8 hits with 2 strikeouts. Ryan Rolison recorded his first save, retiring the final out in the ninth.
Chicago has won three straight and improved to 47-38. San Diego has dropped three in a row and stands at 43-40. Seiya Suzuki, who scored in the first inning, is one home run away from 100 in his career. JP Sears is 25 strikeouts away from 500 in his career.