Padres Sweep Cubs, Advance to NLDS vs Brewers — SkimNews
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- Gavin Sheets blasted a pinch-hit two-run homer and five Padres pitchers combined on a five-hitter as San Diego beat the Cubs 4-1 in Game 2 to finish off the two-game Wild Card Series sweep.
- Xander Bogaerts drove in the first run and Ethan Salas — the youngest player ever to catch a postseason game in major league history — drove in another as the Padres followed Tuesday's 8-0 Game 1 rout with another dominant win.
- The Cubs, who led the majors in runs and the NL in homers this season, managed just eight hits (seven singles) over 18 innings against San Diego's pitching staff.
- The Padres have gone 19-3 since Sept. 5, reversing the result of last year's wild-card matchup in which Chicago eliminated San Diego in three games at Wrigley Field.
- San Diego advances to face the MLB-best Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS starting Saturday; the Padres took four of six from Milwaukee this season, including a three-game sweep at Petco Park in August.
Why it matters: The Cubs' season-long offensive dominance — leading the majors in runs and the NL in homers — was neutralized by a Padres staff that allowed just one run across 18 innings. San Diego now faces an MLB-best Brewers team it handled 4-4 head-to-head this year but beat twice as recently as August, setting up a matchup the franchise hasn't reached this deep in seven years.
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