On a cold and windy day at Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs relied on smart baserunning—and some clutch pitching—to scrape out a 3-1 win over the San Diego Padres. Seiya Suzuki’s hustle was the spark that really made that game shine. And it just goes to show: those little plays can add up.
Suzuki’s Baserunning Magic Strikes Again
That was on full display in the fifth inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, Justin Turner hit a grounder to Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts. Bogaerts dove to his right to make the play. His throw to second base was close-but not quite close enough. Suzuki slid in safely, extending the inning and putting the Cubs ahead.
After the game, manager Craig Counsell talked about that kind of play. “It’s a play that makes you accountable to each other. You do it for each other,” he said. “That kind of play connects you to the guys you’re playing with. Because you’re doing it for your team.” That kind of teamwork—and Suzuki’s baserunning magic—really paid off for the Cubs.
Ian Happ was quick to praise Suzuki’s instincts after scoring on the play. “That big lead and Suzuki’s speed—when he gets a good break on a pitch like that, he can really do some damage,” Happ said. “And when he beats that ball out, the game changes right then and there.”
The inning didn’t end there. Dansby Swanson followed with a sharp ground ball to third baseman Manny Machado. Machado muffed the play—and another run scored. That was just another example of how the Cubs are capitalizing on opportunities this season.
Baserunning is the unsung hero of the Cubs’ success
Through just 10 games, they’ve scored six runs thanks to beating forceouts at second base. That’s a real testament to the guys’ work ethic—and their willingness to take risks. Pete Crow-Armstrong has been responsible for two of those plays, setting the tone for this scrappy style of baseball.
Counsell points to those six runs as a key factor in their early-season success. “Ten games in, we’ve got six runs from beating forceouts at second base,” he said. “That’s a real credit to the guys. When you can make that kind of impact with some baserunning plays, I think the guys in there feel like it matters.”
Jed Hoyer, the Cubs’ president of baseball operations, agrees. “Low-scoring games are where baserunning, stolen bases and errors really come into play,” he said. “Those little things—the ones that don’t always get the headlines—can swing a game. When you’re only up by two or three runs, those are the things that make all the difference.”
The Cubs managed just three hits on Friday. But they capitalized on seven walks and their aggressive baserunning to secure the win.
Imanaga Shines on the Mound
Lefty Shota Imanaga threw his best game of his career, going 7⅓ and allowing just one run to the Padres. He retired the first eight batters he faced before Martin Maldonado homered in the third.
“That was a big mistake,” Imanaga said after the game, referencing his earlier comment about using the Wrigley Field crowd noise as his alarm clock. “I feel like if I did that I would show up late to the field because I’d want to keep listening to the crowd.”
Imanaga allowed four hits and zero walks, his first walk-free game of the season. The standing ovation he received when he left the game was well deserved—a testament to his dominance.
Injury Updates: Assad and Brujan
Craig Counsell gave updates on two injured players:
- Javier Assad (left oblique strain): Threw two innings in extended spring training on Friday and will have a few more outings in Arizona before he starts a minor league rehab assignment.
- Vidal Brujan (right elbow bruise): MRI was “nothing substantial” but symptoms, especially when throwing, are still lingering.