Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (4/6/25): Padres 8, Cubs 7 – Control Issues Cost Sweep
The Cubs entered Sunday’s game against the Padres at Wrigley Field with a chance for a second consecutive sweep. Chicago went ahead after a chaotic opening inning but they could not hold off a furious comeback by the road team and came up short.
Cubs starter Ben Brown had major control issues in the top of the 1st inning with three walks and a hit batter. San Diego also added a couple of infield hits as they built a 3-0 lead before the inning mercifully ended after over 30 pitches.
Luckily for the North Siders, Padres pitcher Kyle Hart had similar problems in the bottom of the frame. The first two batters walked before Kyle Tucker lined an RBI single past first base and Justin Turner hit a sacrifice fly to cut the margin to 3-2. Nico Hoerner tied the score on a hustle double that just got by shortstop Xander Bogaerts into center.
That was the end for Hart, who was pulled with the bases loaded and two outs in the inning. Logan Gillaspie took over and committed two consecutive balks to put the Cubs ahead 5-3. Tucker added to the lead with a two-run homer in the bottom of the 2nd that pushed the score to 7-3.
Then San Diego started making their comeback. Jackson Merrill hit his own two-run dinger off of Brown to make it 7-5 in the top of the 4th inning. Luis Arraez knocked in a run on one of his four hits, a single against Caleb Thielbar in the 5th to make it 7-6.
Gavin Sheets had the tying RBI single against Porter Hodge in the top of the 8th inning. Closer Ryan Pressly put two runners on base in the 9th, but it appeared like he might escape the jam when Manny Machado hit a potential double play ball to shortstop. Unfortunately, Turner dropped the low relay throw at first base to allow the winning run to cross the plate. (Box score)
Key Moment
The Cubs committed two errors and walked eight batters, the last of which led off the 9th and spelled doom.
Why the Cubs Lost
The pitchers couldn’t throw strikes and the offense completely shut down against the terrific Padres bullpen.
Stats That Matter
- Brown missed his spots badly in the early going and couldn’t quite recover: 4 IP, 5 R, 7 H, 5 K, and 4 BB.
- Tucker got on base three times and has been every bit as good as advertised.
- Hoerner had three hits on Sunday and is off to a great start.
Bottom Line
The Padres are a good team, so a sweep was going to be a tough ask. If there has been an Achilles heel for the Cubs this season, it has been walks. They always come back to haunt teams, especially when they come from relief pitchers. If they can tighten up those control issues, they’ll be fine.
On Deck
The Cubs begin a three-game series with the Texas Rangers at Wrigley Monday night at 6:40pm CT. Justin Steele takes the mound against Nathan Eovaldi in a contest broadcast on Marquee with radio coverage on 670 The Score.
