Cubs score 23 runs, tie club record with 8 HRs in rout of Padres

The Chicago Cubs' bats exploded Wednesday at Wrigley Field, as they hit a franchise record-tying eight home runs in a 23-3 beatdown of the San Diego Padres to complete a three-game sweep.

Dansby Swanson was responsible for three of the Cubs' four homers, including a grand slam in the eighth. The shortstop, who has nine homers and 29 RBIs over his last 15 games, became the first Cub to drive in at least eight runs in a game since Sammy Sosa in 2002, according to ESPN's Jesse Rogers.

It's the sixth time since 1898 that the Cubs have scored at least 23 runs in a game, per Stathead. They hadn't produced an offensive day of this magnitude at Wrigley Field since scoring 23 on May 17, 1977 - also against the Padres. Chicago's modern-era franchise record is 26 runs, set in 1995.

Michael Conforto also had a multi-homer day, while Seiya Suzuki, Michael Busch, and Pete Crow-Armstrong each hit one round-tripper. Suzuki's marked a career milestone, as he became just the fourth Japanese-born player to hit 100 home runs in the majors.

Every member of the Cubs' starting lineup, save for Alex Bregman and Nico Hoerner, had at least one hit.

Chicago has now won five straight games and 11 of its last 13.

The defeat also set a record for the Padres, albeit in the worst way. Their 20-run margin of defeat and eight homers allowed both set new franchise records, and the 23 runs allowed tied that 1977 contest at Wrigley for the most surrendered by San Diego in a single game. The Padres hadn't allowed 20-plus runs since 2018.

"(We) got our ass spanked," third baseman Manny Machado said, according to Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Padres starter Walker Buehler allowed a career-high nine runs on seven hits over four innings of work.