CHICAGO — Wrigley Field was dead silent. In a game that was expected to help the Chicago Cubs regain the initiative in the NL Wild Card round, their offense was completely “silent,” losing 0-3 to the San Diego Padres in Game 2, thereby falling into a life-or-death situation.
This game not only made thousands of fans leave the stadium in amazement, but also opened up a series of questions about the Cubs’ ability to adjust tactics, mentality, and even personnel decisions.
Over the course of 9 innings, the Cubs had only 4 hits — none of which really threatened the Padres. Key players like Cody Bellinger, Seiya Suzuki, and Nico Hoerner were all unable to make a difference against the solid pitching of starter Matthew Boyd. “We had chances, but we didn’t capitalize,” a Cubs member said succinctly after the game.
Particularly disappointing were the runs in the fifth and seventh innings, when the Cubs had a man on base but couldn’t convert them — while the Padres needed just one well-timed home run to break the tie.
One of the hot points after the game was head coach Craig Counsell’s decision to pull the starting pitcher early in the sixth inning even though he was in control. Many experts said the change unnecessarily stretched the bullpen, leading to a big blowout in the eighth inning when the Padres scored two crucial runs.
“This is the postseason — you can’t play it too safe,” former pitcher Jon Lester said on television. “They had a chance to hold on, but Counsell was too cautious.”
Down 0-3 at home in a must-win situation, the Cubs were under immense pressure. Many Chicago sportswriters believe the problem is not just strategy, but also the team’s ability to “take the heat.”
“The Padres played like they had nothing to lose. The Cubs did the opposite — they played like they were afraid to lose,” said analyst Mark Grote. “You could see it in the way the pitches were rushed, the swings were indecisive in key moments.”
In the immediate aftermath, social media was flooded with comments from Cubs fans. One side criticized the strategy and fighting spirit, the other believed this was just a temporary “blip.” “We’ve seen many spectacular comebacks at Wrigley,” wrote one fan. “The question is whether the team has the guts to do it again.”
The Cubs will enter Game 3 with a do-or-die situation — either advance or be eliminated. And after their Game 2 performance, all eyes are on the team’s true ability to improvise.
The loss to the Padres was more than just a technical defeat, it was also a test of the Cubs’ character at the most crucial moment of the season. With a team that had high expectations, the biggest question now is: Can they stand up in Game 3, or will the season end in regret?
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