Starting Lineups:

Chicago Cubs (18-12):

1) Nico Hoerner (R) SS

2) Moisés Ballesteros (L) DH

3) Alex Bregman (R) 3B

4) Ian Happ (S) LF

5) Michael Busch (L) 1B

6) Michael Conforto (L) RF

7) Matt Shaw (R) 2B

8) Pete Crow-Armstrong (L) CF

9) Miguel Amaya (R) C

Starting Pitcher: RHP Jameson Taillon (1-1, 4.55 ERA)

San Diego Padres (19-10):

1) Jackson Merrill (L) CF

2) Fernando Tatis Jr. (R) RF

3) Manny Machado (R) DH

4) Xander Bogaerts (R) SS

5) Ty France (R) 1B

6) Miguel Andújar (R) 3B

7) Jake Cronenworth (L) 2B

8) Nick Castellanos (R) LF

9) Luis Campusano (R) C

Starting Pitcher: RHP Matt Waldron (0-1, 12.46 ERA)

Petco Park, San Diego, CA — In the final game of a three-game set, the Chicago Cubs took down the San Diego Padres 5-4 with a strong showing from Pete Crow-Armstrong at the plate, who drove in 3 runs.

The Cubs would get on the scoreboard early in the top of the second inning.

Michael Conforto led off the top of the second with a double on a dropped ball by Jackson Merrill, and Matt Shaw moved him over to third with a groundout. Miguel Amaya would plate Conforto with an RBI single up the middle to put the Cubs ahead 1-0.

The Cubs would score again in the top of the fourth inning thanks to the long ball.

After Matt Shaw bunted his way aboard in the top of the fourth with two away, Crow-Armstrong would launch a homer to right field to put the Cubs ahead 3-0.

The Padres would tie things up in the bottom of the fifth inning, on two home runs.

Miguel Andujar would hit a solo shot to left field on a hanging breaking ball, cutting into Chicago’s lead 3-1. Two batters later, after a walk issued by starter Jameson Taillon to Jake Cronenworth, Nick Castellanos would crush a two-run homer to left-center field to tie the game at 3 apiece.

The Cubs would take the lead again in the top of the sixth inning.

Conforto reached base on a fielder’s choice with one away. Shaw would hit a double to put two runners in scoring position. Crow-Armstrong would hit an RBI groundout, scoring Conforto and putting the Cubs ahead 4-3.

Matt Shaw would add to the Cubs’ lead in the top of the eighth with a solo shot to left field, putting Chicago ahead 5-3.

The Padres took advantage of reliever Corbin Martin’s inability to throw strikes in the bottom of the eighth inning. Nick Castellanos, Luis Campusano, and Merrill all drew walks to load the bases. Tatis Jr hit an RBI sac fly to cut into the lead 5-4, Chicago.

Cubs starter Taillon had a quality outing — pitching seven innings, giving up 3 runs, while striking out 6 on his way to earning his second win of the year.

It’s worth noting the Cubs were without shortstop Dansby Swanson for the series finale, as he suffered a right glute cramp in last night’s game against the Padres. However, the Cubs don’t believe the injury is anything serious.

Pete Crow-Armstrong – photo courtesy of The Chicago Tribune

The Good: Pete Crow-Armstrong continues his hot streak at the plate — driving in 3 runs, two of which came from a home run. Crow-Armstrong hit a three-run homer in last night’s game against the Padres and has 3 on the season.

The Bad/The Ugly: The Padres had a few defensive miscues on routine plays and totaled just three hits, two of which were home runs, however.

-Matt Koper

Founder of Koper’s Korner