UPDATE: In a pivotal moment of the NL Wild Card Series, the Chicago Cubs are on the brink of elimination after a critical mistake by pitcher Shota Imanaga allowed Manny Machado to hit a two-run home run, leading the San Diego Padres to a 3-0 victory in Game 2 on October 4, 2023.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell stood by his controversial decision to keep Imanaga on the mound to face Machado in the fifth inning. Despite the circumstances, Counsell expressed confidence in Imanaga’s abilities, stating, “The results suggest that we should have done something different.” The loss sets the stage for a decisive Game 3 at Wrigley Field on October 5.
The game shifted dramatically after Fernando Tatis Jr. walked and advanced to second on Luis Arraez‘s sacrifice bunt, creating a critical scoring opportunity. Counsell admitted he considered intentionally walking Machado but opted to let Imanaga pitch. “Walking him wasn’t in my head,” Imanaga remarked through an interpreter, adding, “That splitter was meant for down in the zone.”
“I don’t put a manager’s cap on,” Machado said regarding the surprising matchup. “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.”
Padres manager Mike Shildt noted that his focus was solely on his team, stating, “I’ve got my hands full with my own club. I can’t be thinking about anybody else’s strategy.”
As the Cubs and Padres prepare for the winner-take-all showdown, the Padres will send former Cubs pitcher Yu Darvish to the mound, while Jameson Taillon will start for Chicago. “I’m excited,” Taillon shared. “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.”
With the stakes high, fans and players alike are gearing up for an intense Game 3 that could decide the fate of the Cubs’ postseason. This crucial matchup is set to begin at 8:00 PM ET tomorrow night.
