The Chicago Cubs defeated the San Diego Padres 3-1 in the winner-take-all Game 3 of their wild card series on Thursday.
Things got dicey in the ninth inning for the home team, however – and the Cubs might have had to sweat even more if they hadn’t benefitted from what appeared to be a bad strike call by home plate umpire D.J. Reyburn.
After the Padres’ Jackson Merrill homered to kick off the top of the ninth at Wrigley Field, shortstop Xander Bogaerts struck out on a 3-2 count when he didn’t swing at a ball that appeared to be below the strike zone. Bogaerts protested immediately, as did manager Mike Shildt, who ran out to speak with Reyburn.
Making the call even more brutal: Cubs pitcher Brad Keller hit the next two batters he faced. The Padres could have theoretically had the bases loaded with no outs.
The Cubs then called on Andrew Kittredge and he was able to get out of the jam.
The Padres’ season is over. The Cubs are moving on to face the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS.
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