Game 2 standoff: The decision and its context
In a 3-0 deficit that proved to be the final margin, the Cubs’ decision to leave left-hander Shota Imanaga on the mound to face Manny Machado in the fifth inning became the focal point of the postgame discussion. Cubs manager Craig Counsell defended the move after the Padres’ 3-0 win in Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series. “The results suggest that we should have done something different,” Counsell said. “Really just confidence in Shota, plain and simple there. I thought he was pitching well. I thought he was throwing the ball really well, and, unfortunately, he made a mistake.”
Open-base scenario and the pitch choice
The decision followed a sequence in which Fernando Tatis Jr. walked and then advanced to second on Luis Arraez’s sacrifice bunt, effectively creating an open base for Machado. Counsell said he considered walking Machado but ultimately chose to pitch to him. “Walking him wasn’t in my head,” Imanaga said through an interpreter. “That splitter was meant for down in the zone.”
The bullpen question and strategic tension
Curiosity intensified because the Cubs had right-hander Mike Soroka warmed in the bullpen, yet Counsell elected not to summon him. It was a curious moment given that Chicago had used an opener in Game 2 to keep Imanaga from facing Tatis and Machado early; that plan did not apply to the fifth inning, when Machado came to the plate with the decisive at-bat. “I don’t put a manager’s cap on,” Machado said when asked if he was surprised to face Imanaga in that spot. “I’m 0-for-6 at that point. So yeah, I’m not thinking about that. For myself, I was just thinking about trying to get to Imanaga.”
Machado’s impact and Shildt’s stance
Padres manager Mike Shildt kept the focus on his own club, noting, “I’ve got my hands full with my own club. I can’t be thinking about anybody else’s strategy.” Machado’s quick strike—“a first-pitch splitter for a two-run homer”—set the tone for a game that swung the momentum toward San Diego and left the Cubs with work to do in a decisive Game 3. The Padres will turn to Yu Darvish, while the Cubs will counter with Jameson Taillon as they chase the series decider at Wrigley Field.
Looking ahead: Game 3 at Wrigley
Taillon expressed a readiness for the high-stakes moment: “I’m excited. As [Game 2] got going there, I started to get excited for tomorrow. You do a lot of work throughout the season for big moments. I’m looking forward to it.” The winner-take-all nature of the upcoming game adds even more drama to the Cubs’ home ballpark, where the series will be decided and a path to the next round will be paved for either Chicago or San Diego.
