Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (6/8/21): Cubs 7, Padres 1 – Rizzo, Wisdom Provide Power as Davies Keeps Friars at Bay

The Cubs evened the series in San Diego with a nice bounceback performance that featured good starting pitching, plenty of power at the plate, and solid bullpen work en route to a 7-1 win.

Zach Davies was exactly what the Cubs needed in this one, going six shutout innings while only allowing one hit against his former mates. Davies used his repertoire to keep the Padres off-balance after some hard contact early, needing only four strikeouts to dominate the powerful lineup.

While Davies was keeping San Diego hitters on their toes, the offense provided more than enough juice to spare, launching three big home runs. Willson Contreras started the party in the 4th, teeing off on a ball to left center and putting the Cubs up 1-0.

In the 6th, the Cubs turned the one-run game into a laugher as Joc Pederson and Kris Bryant started the inning off with back-to-back singles. Anthony Rizzo then stepped to the plate and lined a ball to center that was misplayed into a double by Jurickson Profar, rolling all the way to the wall and scoring both Pederson and Bryant. Patrick Wisdom then stepped to the plate and did what he does, launching yet another bomb to make it 5-0 Cubs.

Rizzo added to the lead in the top of the 7th, finishing the Cubs scoring with a two-run home run that scored Pederson again.

The Padres were able to scrape and claw for one in the 9th off Alec Mills when Ha-Seong Kim doubled in Tommy Pham, but that would be all the Padres could manage. (Box score)

Why the Cubs Won

The bats provided plenty of thunder and Davies worked his way through six shutout innings en route to a relatively easy victory.

Key Moment

After Rizzo had just made it 3-0 with a two-RBI double in the 6th, Wisdom launched yet another bomb to make it 5-0 Cubs and put this one on ice.

Stats That Matter

• Rizzo looks to be starting a hot streak, going 2-for-3 with a HBP, 2 R, 2B, HR, and 4 RBI.
• Davies twirled a 6 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 4 K performance that the Cubs sorely needed from a starter.
• The Cubs are now 4-1 against the Padres this season with a chance to make it 5-1 Wednesday afternoon.
• Tommy Nance still has yet to give up a run in 9.1 IP and Andrew Chafin hasn’t given up a run in his last 13 appearances dating back to May 7.

Bottom Line

The Cubs evened the series at a game apiece and can now go for the series win and a respectable 3-4 record on this West Coast trip that started with a three-game skid.

On Deck

The Cubs finish the series against the Friars Wednesday before an off-day on Thursday. They’ll send Jake Arrieta to the mound to counter the guy who essentially replaced him before being shipped out to San Diego in a rather unpopular move this offseason. Yu Darvish has continued right where he left off in 2020, going 6-1 with a 2.25 ERA so far this season. Game time is 3:10pm CT and will be broadcast on Marquee and 670 The Score.