Padres win NL Wild Card Game 1 2026
mlb.com • • sports
Key Points:
- The San Diego Padres dominated Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series, defeating the Chicago Cubs 8-0 with strong pitching and powerful offense at Petco Park.
- Padres pitcher Michael King carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning, allowing only one hit over seven innings, marking the longest no-hit bid in the postseason since 2019.
- Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado both hit first-inning home runs, becoming the first Padres teammates to hit multiple homers in the first inning of a playoff game in franchise history.
- Cubs starter Matthew Boyd struggled with command of his changeup, surrendering three home runs off that pitch, contributing to Chicago's offensive struggles, as they went 0-for-20 until the seventh inning.
- The Padres' strong pitching performance, combined with an explosive offense, puts them one win away from advancing to the NLDS, while the Cubs face a tough uphill battle in the series.
