CHICAGO -- Hey, 161-1 is still on the table.
On a festive Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field, the Padres¡¯ club-record season-opening winning streak came to an end in a 3-1 loss to the Cubs, who were celebrating their home opener.
Chicago ace Shota Imanaga was excellent across 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball. The Cubs scored twice on infield grounders in the decisive fifth inning. The Padres mounted a late threat -- to no avail.
And just like that, their 7-0 start to the season became 7-1.
¡°It¡¯s a good start,¡± said manager Mike Shildt, when asked to reflect on the team¡¯s record-setting week. ¡°¡ The guys really were completely in on what we were looking to accomplish. They were ready to go individually. As a group, we were ready and on point. [We were] ready to start the season.¡±
As such, there was little shame in a loss like this one. The Padres were facing a dominant starting pitcher in a tough environment on the heels of a 7-0 homestand to open the season.
¡°Seven wins, and the first loss, we're giving ourselves a chance toward the end,¡± said shortstop Xander Bogaerts, whose two fly balls to the warning track might¡¯ve left the yard on a warmer summer day in Chicago. ¡°Good thing is, from last year, it's the same thing. Even though we were down, we gave ourselves a chance. ¡ Their ace had us a little off-balance. But we did the best we could.¡±
In spite of Friday¡¯s loss, the Padres¡¯ start remains tied for the best in franchise history. The only other time they¡¯ve begun a season 7-1, they won the 1984 National League pennant.
The frustration with this year¡¯s 7-1 start is that it¡¯s not good enough for first place in the NL West. The rival Dodgers remain unbeaten (8-0) heading into their series opener in Philadelphia on Friday night. But that¡¯s of little concern to the Padres right now.
Even in their loss on Friday, there were positive takeaways aplenty. Fernando Tatis Jr. and the newly extended Jackson Merrill pounded out two hits apiece. Merrill has now hit safely in all eight games, the longest season-opening hitting streak since Jon Jay in 2016. The bullpen, meanwhile, again pitched scoreless ball over 3 1/3 innings, and it has allowed just two runs across 30 innings.
¡°We've been playing good baseball,¡± general manager A.J. Preller said in the aftermath of Merrill¡¯s extension press conference on Wednesday. ¡°Obviously, it's great to get wins. But more the way we're playing as a group. It's been the top players playing up to their ability, everyone contributing in all different roles.
¡°You look up every day, and somebody else is stepping up from the bench, a different person in the lineup is contributing, our starting pitching and our bullpen are shutting games down. And we're playing a style that we're super excited about -- that Shildty and the group preaches.¡±
On Friday, that unexpected contributor was Mart¨ªn Maldonado, who slugged .230 with the White Sox last season. He launched a solo home run off Imanaga into the basket above the left-field wall at Wrigley Field, tying the game in the third inning.
But that home run would account for the entirety of San Diego¡¯s offense. The Cubs took the lead in the bottom of the fifth, after Padres starter Randy V¨¢squez had loaded the bases. Shildt called for left-hander Yuki Matsui, who nearly escaped the jam.
Justin Turner hit a grounder to short that Bogaerts fielded on a dive. He threw to second -- a split second too late to nab a hustling Seiya Suzuki. The Cubs would extend their advantage a batter later when Manny Machado booted a sharp Dansby Swanson grounder.
¡°Game of inches,¡± Bogaerts said. ¡°I probably should¡¯ve thrown to first -- I don¡¯t know what play would¡¯ve happened.¡±
V¨¢squez allowed only two hits, but he walked five. Ultimately, that proved to be the Padres¡¯ undoing.
¡°I felt good with my pitches,¡± V¨¢squez said through interpreter Pedro Gutierrez. ¡°It was just a lack of control.¡±
The Padres put the tying runs in scoring position against Cubs closer Ryan Pressly amid a dramatic ninth. But after a heavy diet of breaking pitches, Pressly froze Jake Cronenworth on a 3-2 fastball, ending the game -- and the Padres¡¯ quest for 162-0.
No, they won¡¯t dwell on it.
¡°Enjoy a good meal,¡± Shildt said. ¡°And be ready to go tomorrow.¡±