For the first time since the 2017 NLDS, the Chicago Cubs have won a playoff series. They held on for a 3-1 win against the San Diego Padres in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series on Thursday evening at Wrigley Field, winning the series 2-1. The Padres had the tying run in scoring position in the ninth, but Andrew Kittredge got Freddy Fermín to fly out to end the game. The Cubs are advancing to the NLDS to face the top-seeded Milwaukee Brewers.

The theme of the day for the Cubs, as it was in Game 1, was the excellent work in terms of run prevention. That would be pitching and defense working together in harmony. Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon worked beautifully, allowing only two hits in four scoreless innings while striking out four. The tone was set with a three-pitch strikeout of Padres’ star leadoff man Fernando Tatis Jr. to start the game.

Taillon was spotted two runs in the second inning by the Cubs’ offense, too, which included a bases-loaded, RBI single from Pete Crow-Armstrong. He went 3 for 4 in the game.

Crow-Armstrong is, of course, a stellar defender in center field for the Cubs. They have arguably the best up-the-middle defense in baseball with PCA, second baseman Nico Hoerner and shortstop Dansby Swanson. It was on display in this game. PCA flashed his range, notably with a sliding catch in the first. Swanson made several good plays, taking away two hits from Luis Arraez in particular and also coming through with an unassisted double play to end a threat in the sixth. Hoerner made an excellent leaping grab at second base to prevent an RBI single in the seventh.

Still, it was only 2-0 heading to the bottom of the seventh inning, as the Cubs had left seven baserunners on. Michael Busch provided some breathing room with a home run.

The Padres mounted a rally in the ninth — Jackson Merrill homered and two more batters reached after getting hit by pitches — but the Cubs prevailed. The Cubs’ bullpen as a group (Caleb Thielbar, Daniel Palencia, Drew Pomeranz, Brad Keller and Andrew Kittredge) did excellent work again, allowing just one run on five hits in five innings. 

The Cubs will move on to face the Brewers in the NLDS, starting with Game 1 in Milwaukee on Saturday. The Cubs won the season series over the Brewers, 7-6.