Controversial Strike Three Costs Padres in Cubs Playoff Game 3

The Chicago Cubs punched their ticket to the National League Division Series with a gritty 3-1 victory over the San Diego Padres in Game 3 of their wild card showdown on Thursday night.

This contest was a tense pitching duel, filled with drama and a controversial strike call. The Cubs overcame a late-inning scare and now face the Milwaukee Brewers.

Chicago fans felt an emotional high, while San Diego’s postseason hopes ended in dramatic fashion.

Cubs Survive Ninth-Inning Drama

Chicago entered the ninth with a 3-0 lead and looked ready to cruise into the next round. The Padres, desperate to keep their season alive, found a spark thanks to rookie sensation Jackson Merrill.

Merrill’s solo home run trimmed the deficit to two, sparking energy in the San Diego dugout and crowd. Suddenly, the tension was back.

Then Xander Bogaerts stepped up. With a full count, he took a low pitch that home plate umpire D.J. Reyburn called a strike.

Bogaerts and Padres manager Mike Shildt protested furiously. That call became the flashpoint of the game.

A Questionable Call Changes Everything

The timing of the strikeout was brutal for San Diego. If Bogaerts had reached, the Padres would have been close to loading the bases with no outs in a one-run game.

Instead, the call stopped San Diego’s momentum before it could build. The emotional balance in the inning shifted instantly.

Cubs pitcher Brad Keller started to struggle, hitting the next two batters. He looked rattled, and the lead felt shaky.

With the crowd buzzing and tension high, the Cubs made a game-saving change.

Andrew Kittredge Slams the Door

Reliever Andrew Kittredge came in with two runners on and a slim lead. He showed veteran poise, retiring the next batters to secure the win.

Kittredge’s ability to stop the bleeding capped a night where the Cubs bullpen handled serious turbulence under the spotlight.

The Call That Ended the Padres’ Season

For San Diego, the strike three call against Bogaerts will sting for months. Playoff baseball often turns on tiny moments, but this one cut their rally short.

The Padres never got a real chance to threaten Chicago’s lead, and their postseason ended in frustration.

Key Takeaways from the Cubs’ Victory

Chicago’s performance on Thursday showed resilience and timely execution. Some critical elements to their win included:

• Early Lead Protection – Chicago scored three runs and stuck to smart pitching changes to hold back San Diego’s offense.
• Handling Adversity – The Cubs didn’t fold despite Keller’s ninth-inning struggles.
• Clutch Relief Work – Kittredge’s composure in a high-stakes moment preserved the victory.
• Beneficial Breaks – The controversial umpire call shifted momentum at exactly the right time for Chicago.

Brewers Await in the Next Round

With the wild card series finally wrapped up, the Cubs now stare down the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS. The Brewers come in with a strong rotation and some seriously disciplined hitters.

Chicago has to bring that same mix of offensive spark and bullpen reliability if they want to keep this thing going. Playoff baseball, honestly, is all about those razor-thin margins.

Thursday’s game proved how a single pitch can flip a whole season upside down. The Cubs now have some momentum, but Milwaukee won’t make anything easy.

Every game ahead is going to take skill—and, let’s be real, nerves of steel.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Controversial strike three call costs Padres late MLB playoff rally vs. Cubs