Cubs bounce Padres to set up NLDS vs. Brewers

The Chicago Cubs defeated the San Diego Padres 3-1 in Thursday's Game 3 of the National League wild-card series to advance to face the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS.

Chicago will play in the NLDS for the first time since 2017, when it advanced to the NLCS before losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers in five games.

"It's going to be a great atmosphere," Cubs manager Craig Counsell said postgame, according to Jay Cohen of The Associated Press. "It's Cubs-Brewers. That's going to be as good as it gets. It's always a great atmosphere when the two teams play each other."

Michael Busch and Pete Crow-Armstrong had three hits each in the victory. The former sent a charge through Wrigley Field with a loud home run in the seventh inning.

"It's just the next step for us," Busch said. "You set out a goal before each and every year to do stuff like this, and you celebrate it, and it's been fun to celebrate and continue to celebrate it tonight, but there's a lot of work ahead."

Right-hander Jameson Taillon allowed two hits with four strikeouts over four shutout innings to begin the contest before the Cubs used five different relievers. Daniel Palencia picked up the win, while Andrew Kittredge locked down the save in his third straight appearance in the series.

Padres starter Yu Darvish lasted just one inning in the winner-take-all game, surrendering two earned runs on four hits with one strikeout.

San Diego's only run came in the ninth inning via a Jackson Merrill solo homer.

Chicago went 7-6 against the NL Central-winning Brewers this season.