Brad Keller had nothing left in the ninth inning and after Jackson Merrill homered to make it a 3-1 game Keller struck out Xander Bogaerts looking on a controversial call. I mean, we all saw it, it was ball four below the zone but the Cubs finally got a call to go their way in Game 3 of the Wild Card series. Then, Ryan O'Hearn and Bryce Johnson were both plunked by Keller, which brought out Craig Counsell from the dugout for a pitching change.
Keller came into the game with a 3-0 lead in the eighth inning. He got through the top of the Padres' lineup after allowing a single to Freddy Fermin and Counsell's plan all along was to use Keller for the final six outs. However, Keller's control was non existent in the ninth and there's no doubt that the Cubs got a huge break on this call.
Without it the Padres potentially have the bases loaded with nobody out in the ninth. Of course, maybe Counsell makes a pitching change before Keller gets past O'Hearn, but it definitely changed the dynamic of the inning.
Andrew Kittredge, who pitched a scoreless inning on Tuesday and then gave up a run as the opener on Wednesday, came in to pitch after Keller in the ninth and he was able to get the final two outs. Matt Shaw threw out Jake Cronenworth after having trouble fielding a slow roller, but the third baseman recovered in time and unleashed a rocket to Michael Busch at first base.
Then, Fermin, who had four hits in the series, came up to the plate with the tying runs on second and third base.
This game was won with a great effort from Jameson Taillon, who pitched four shutout innings before the Cubs went to the bullpen. And the defense was amazing once again, led by shortstop Dansby Swanson.
Yu Darvish couldn't get past the second inning and although the Cubs only scored two runs in the second it held through the game until Busch added a much-needed insurance run.
Unlike Game 1's performance by the Cubs' bullpen, tonight was a little shaky. Still, they bent, but didn't break and had just enough wiggle room to escape to the NLDS.
There were also some close calls that did not go the Cubs' way on Thursday. Two stolen bases at second base were overturned and Nico Hoerner was called out at home in a bang-bang play as well.
It will now be Cubs vs. Brewers one side of the National League Division series while the Dodgers and Phillies square off on the other. Game 1 between the Cubs and Brewers will be on Saturday. First pitch is still TBD.
