Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (4/15/25): Cubs 2, Padres 1 F/10 – Bullpen Shines in Extras Victory

The Cubs tried to get back on the winning track against the Padres Tuesday after a bullpen meltdown cost them a victory on Monday night. It was a low-scoring affair, but Chicago scratched out a run in the 10th inning to earn an extra-innings win.

Opposing starters Shōta Imanaga and Randy Vásquez pitched around multiple early jams to keep the game scoreless into the 5th inning. The Cubs gave slugger Manny Machado two free outs in the bottom of that frame when Kyle Tucker and Gage Workman each dropped foul pop-ups, and they paid for those errors when Machado blasted a solo home run to put the home team ahead 1-0.

The North Siders had singles from Dansby Swanson and Nico Hoerner to put runners on the corners with nobody out in the top of the 6th. Pete Crow-Armstrong then laid down a safety squeeze that first baseman Luis Arráez fumbled, allowing Swanson to score the tying run.

Neither squad could push a run across through nine and the game went into extra innings. Hoerner opened up the 10th with a triple to right-center field off Yuki Matsui that scored the courtesy runner and gave the Cubs a 2-1 lead. Caleb Thielbar got three outs before the Padres could score the tying run to save the big win. (Box score)

Key Moment

Thielbar intentionally walked Fernando Tatís Jr. with two outs and a runner on third in the 10th inning. He then got the pesky Arráez to hit a weak fly ball to Ian Happ in left on the first pitch to end the game.

Why the Cubs Won

The bullpen was perfect on Tuesday after struggling mightily the night before. That was enough to overcome some very shoddy defense and a lineup that stranded 14 runners on base, making it a much more difficult victory than it needed to be.

Stats That Matter

• Imanaga had to work hard but kept the Padres offense down his entire outing: 5 IP, 1 R, 0 ER 4 H, 7 K, and 3 BB.
• Hoerner had three hits on Tuesday and has been smoking hot.
• The Cubs ‘pen did a great job: 5 IP, 0 R, 1 H, 4 K, and 1 BB.

Bottom Line

Chicago has guaranteed they will not have a losing road trip, something they absolutely would’ve taken going into series in San Diego and Los Angeles. They keep finding different ways to win, which is something manager Craig Counsell made commonplace when he was in Milwaukee. The Cubs keep putting themselves in a stronger position with each victory during this very difficult portion of the schedule.

On Deck

The rubber match of the series is Wednesday afternoon at 3:10pm CT. Matthew Boyd duels with Nick Pivetta in a contest televised on Marquee with a radio feed on 670 The Score.