Gavin Sheets’ Pinch-Hit Homer Sends Padres Past Cubs, Into NLDS

Gavin Sheets came off the bench and launched a two-run homer as the San Diego Padres beat the Chicago Cubs 4-1 on Wednesday night, completed a two-game National League Wild Card Series sweep and advanced to face the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS.

Sheets’ fourth-inning shot turned a tense 2-1 game into a three-run Padres lead. Five San Diego pitchers then protected the advantage, holding a Cubs lineup that led MLB in runs to five hits in Game 2 and only eight hits across the entire series.

Padres build an early lead

San Diego moved in front in the second inning after Ty France doubled and Jackson Merrill reached on an infield hit. Merrill stole second before Xander Bogaerts singled home France, and rookie catcher Ethan Salas added a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead.

Salas made history at 20 years and 121 days old, becoming the youngest player to catch a postseason game in MLB history. He also handled a pitching staff that limited Chicago to one run.

The Cubs finally scored their first run of the series in the fourth. Seiya Suzuki singled, Ian Happ walked and Nico Hoerner brought Suzuki home with a single. Chicago loaded the bases later in the inning, but reliever Bradgley Rodríguez escaped without allowing the tying run.

Sheets answers with decisive homer

The Padres responded immediately. Bogaerts doubled with one out in the bottom of the fourth, and Cubs manager Craig Counsell brought in Daniel Palencia. After Palencia struck out Salas, San Diego countered with Sheets as a pinch-hitter.

Sheets turned on a 101 mph fastball and drove it 394 feet into the right-field seats for a two-run homer. The swing stretched San Diego’s lead to 4-1 and gave its bullpen the margin it needed.

Rodríguez, Jason Adam, Adrian Morejon and Mason Miller combined to close the game after starter Nick Pivetta departed in the fourth inning. Miller worked around Hoerner’s ninth-inning double to record the final three outs.

San Diego reverses last year’s result

The sweep carried an extra layer of satisfaction for the Padres. Chicago eliminated San Diego in three Wild Card games at Wrigley Field one year ago. This time, the Padres controlled both games at Petco Park, following Tuesday’s 8-0 victory with another dominant pitching performance.

San Diego has now won 19 of its last 22 games and will open the Division Series on Saturday in Milwaukee. The Padres won four of six meetings with the Brewers during the regular season.