Chicago Cubs: Recapping their NL wild-card series loss

The Chicago Cubs picked a bad time to go into an offensive slumber.

They managed just eight total hits — all but one of them singles — and were swept in their National League wild-card series against the San Diego Padres, ending their season.

The woes at the plate became a recipe for postseason disaster, with the Padres exacting revenge for the Cubs’ 2-1 series win last year at Wrigley Field.

Here’s how the best-of-three series unfolded.

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Game 1: Padres 8, Cubs 0

The Cubs must quickly move past an all-around ugly showing to extend their season.

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Their postseason turned into a nightmare almost immediately in the Cubs’ 8-0 loss in which they were held to three hits during Game 1 of the wild-card series against the Padres at Petco Park.

“You never want to play from behind,” manager Craig Counsell said. “It means you’ve got to score, and we didn’t score. There’s nothing more than that really.” Read more here.

• Cubs turn to veteran Kevin Gausman — whose shoulder feels ‘good enough’ — to start in must-win Game 2
• Pete Crow-Armstrong — with ‘more to prove’ — is eager to help Cubs start the postseason strong
• Cubs set NL wild-card series roster: Pitchers Caleb Thielbar and Edward Cabrera left off
• Matthew Boyd named Cubs’ Game 1 starter to set up wild-card rematch against the Padres

Game 2: Padres 4, Cubs 1

Major League Baseball’s best offense in the regular season will be watching the rest of the playoffs from home.

After a season defined by extreme highs and lows, the Cubs played from behind in all but one inning and were swept in a NL wild-card series against the Padres with a 4-1 loss.

Four Cubs pitchers — Kevin Gausman, Daniel Palencia, David Peterson and Ryan Zeferjahn — kept the Padres in check enough to give the offense a chance. This team was built around offense and defense, and the bats never came alive in a disappointing performance. The group underwhelmed, managing just one run and nine hits over the 18 innings in the series. Read more here. 

• Column: With both teams on Peacock, finding a Chicago playoff game on TV never has been so maddening

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How we got here

The sneak-attack champagne and beer showers quickly made nobody safe in the Cubs clubhouse.

Multiple players victimized manager Craig Counsell, whose eyes had become so blinded by the deluge of alcohol he couldn’t make out who got him. Michael Conforto dumped a full beer down the back of an unsuspecting Carson Kelly while across the room Shota Imanaga threw his head back, opened his arms and let out a yell as assistant hitting coach Juan Cabreja uncorked the champagne. A double-fisting Pedro Ramírez unloaded two beers over a grinning Nico Hoerner’s head.

Pete Crow-Armstrong, a frequent target of his teammates and staff during the celebration, felt the burn.

While the initial on-field reaction was subdued when the Cubs clinched a playoff spot at Wrigley Field, they savored the moment during their postgame clubhouse celebration. Read more here.

• ‘OK, job isn’t done’: Cubs toast return to postseason — and eye a deeper run
• Pete Crow-Armstrong becomes the 1st Cub with a 40-40 season — and only the 7th player in MLB history
• Column: Can Alex Bregman be the difference for Cubs in another wild-card showdown with San Diego?
• ‘That’s my baseball dad’: The Cubs coach who helped Pete Crow-Armstrong become an MVP-caliber hitter