San Diego Padres complete stunning 8-run comeback to defeat Chicago Cubs 9-8

The Padres Stage Historic Comeback to Defeat the Cubs

On Monday night at Petco Park, the Chicago Cubs took an 8-0 lead over the San Diego Padres by the fourth inning, setting the stage for what seemed like a clear victory for the Cubs.

Turn of Events

However, the game took a dramatic turn in the sixth inning when the Padres remarkably put seven runs on the board, including consecutive hits on four pitches. This turn of events completely shifted the momentum of the game.

Tatis Jr. Seals the Victory

The Padres continued their surge in the eighth inning, with Fernando Tatis Jr. hitting a two-run homer to give the Padres a 9-8 lead, stunning both the Cubs and their fans.

Unraveling of the Cubs

Following the strong start by the Cubs, their lead quickly slipped away as their bullpen struggled, allowing the Padres to make an incredible comeback. The Cubs' chance of winning the game plummeted from 99.2% to a mere 0.8% in just a few innings, according to FanGraphs.

Historic Comeback

The Padres' eight-run comeback tied for the largest in franchise history, with the last such comeback occurring on July 8, 2021, against the Washington Nationals. On the other hand, the Cubs' collapse marked their first blown eight-run lead since June 29, 2002, when they lost to the Chicago White Sox after initially leading 8-0.

Aftermath

The Padres' victory brought them within a game of reaching a .500 win-loss record at 6-7, while the Cubs fell to 6-4 after the unexpected loss. The two teams are set to face off in the second game of the series on Tuesday night.