SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jameson Taillon pitched effectively into the sixth inning, Dansby Swanson homered among his three hits, and the Chicago Cubs beat the San Diego Padres 2-1 on Friday night in the opener of a four-game series.
Taillon (1-3), who came in winless over his previous eight starts with an 8.04 ERA, kept the Padres batters off-balance twice through their lineup and earned the win. He gave up three hits and one run in a season-high 5 2/3 innings.
Padres starter Michael Wacha (5-2) struggled with control, issuing five walks in 4 2/3 innings. He gave up two runs and three hits while striking out eight.
Chicago took the lead with a fielder’s choice ground ball by Ian Happ to score Nico Hoerner from third in the third inning. Swanson hit a solo homer to left off Wacha to make it 2-0 in the fifth.
San Diego finally broke through against Taillon in the sixth after Rougned Odor (2 for 3) led off with a double and scored Fernando Tatis Jr.’s slow infield dribbler hugging the third-base line. Odor left the game after a single in the eighth with an apparent leg injury.
Cubs reliever Adbert Alzolay quashed a Padres threat in the eighth. He came in with no outs and runners at first and second and got Xander Bogaerts to hit into a double play and then struck out Tatis.
Mark Leiter Jr. finished up with a scoreless ninth for his third save.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cubs: LHP Justin Steele (left forearm strain) is day-to-day. Steele underwent an MRI exam on Thursday, and the results indicated it was a “mild” strain.
Padres: Reinstated 3B Manny Machado from the 10-day IL prior to Friday night’s game. The move comes 17 days after Machado sustained a fractured metacarpal in his left hand when he was hit by a pitch. … Placed DH Nelson Cruz on the 10-day IL (right hamstring strain). … Optioned OF José Azocar to Triple-A El Paso. … Selected the contract of IB Alfonso Rivas from El Paso. … C Luis Campusano (left thumb surgery) was moved from the 10-day to the 60-day IL.
UP NEXT
Cubs LHP Drew Smyly (5-2, 3.45) will start on Saturday night against Padres LHP Yu Darvish (3-4, 4.61).
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