Seiya Suzuki’s Late-Inning RBI Single Secures Cubs’ 3-2 Victory Over Padres

Seiya Suzuki’s two-out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning Monday night secured a 3-2 victory for the Chicago Cubs over the visiting San Diego Padres.

Dansby Swanson initiated the rally with an infield single against Jason Adam (2-2). Pete Crow-Armstrong followed with a hit to second base, prompting San Diego to replace Adam with Mason Miller in the bullpen.

Alex Bregman added another single to load the bases, but pitcher Michael Busch doubled the pressure when a flyout to shallow left became a scoring double play after Jase Bowen tagged Swanson at home.

However, Suzuki’s clutch performance turned the tide—a slider from Miller was driven deep into left field, and Bowen failed to secure the catch, allowing Crow-Armstrong to score the decisive run.

Trent Thornton (3-2) managed to work around a one-out infield hit by Fernando Tatis Jr. in the decisive ninth, extending Chicago’s streak to seven wins in eight games. San Diego’s effort marked their third consecutive loss.

Neither starting pitcher was credited with the win or loss. San Diego’s Griffin Canning allowed two runs on five hits across 4 1/3 innings, walking two batters and registering three strikeouts. Chicago’s Shota Imanaga limited the Padres to nine hits over 6 1/3 innings, posting two runs allowed, no walks, and four strikeouts.

The Padres’ initial run came in the top of the third when Tatis grounded into a fielder’s choice with runners on second and third and one out. Freddy Fermin was caught off base at third, but Xander Bogaerts crossed home plate to record the score.

Bogaerts doubled in the fourth inning, plating Miguel Andujar (3-for-4) with a drive into the left-field corner. This marked his second hit in two innings after a 0-for-10 cold start against Imanaga.

The Cubs tied the game 2-2 in the fourth with a two-out single from Michael Conforto that plated Suzuki, who had doubled to left earlier in the at-bat. The inning lingered as Canning stuck Nolan Hoerner with a pitch.

Chicago closed the scoring in the fifth when Suzuki sacrificed himself to push in Swanson, who had opened the inning with a leadoff double.

Regrettable situational hitting plagued both sides, as the teams combined to go just 5-for-24 with runners in scoring position and left 20 runners stranded on base.

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