Cubs’ perfect pen a key to Game 1 victory
Everyone in the Cubs’ bullpen seems to have one thing in common. No one really expected to be here.
The best collective relief performance of the season carried the Cubs to a 3-1 win over San Diego on Tuesday at Wrigley Field, the team's first postseason victory since 2017.
Daniel Palencia, Drew Pomeranz, Andrew Kittredge and Brad Keller retired all 14 batters they faced. Palencia used to be the closer, but took the mound in the fifth inning of this game. Keller recorded his sixth career save in eight big-league seasons.
Let's take this one at a time. Palencia started the season in Iowa, became the Cubs' closer, then went on the injured list with a shoulder strain on Sept. 7.
Starter Matthew Boyd gave up a one-out single in the fifth and manager Craig Counsell turned to Palencia, rather than let Boyd faced the top of San Diego's order for a third time. The results were spectacular, as Palencia was back to throwing his familiar 100-mph heat and retired the first five hitters in the Padres batting order.
“My mindset was just be aggressive,” Palencia said. “I'm the guy for that situation, because I know they are great hitters, but I'm a great pitcher too. It's them vs. me, and this time I won.”
Pomeranz hadn't pitched in the majors since 2021 before joining the Cubs on April 21. Kittredge arrived in a deadline deal from Baltimore at the end of July.
Keller, once a promising starter for Kansas City, pitched in relief for the Red Sox and White Sox last year, without much success. He was just hoping to get a chance when he joined the Cubs in spring training. Tuesday was his postseason debut.
“Crazy year, crazy whirlwind of a year and whatever role they throw me in, I'm OK with,” Keller said. “That was definitely the coolest environment I think I've pitched in for sure. That was special.”
Kittredge, who had experienced the playoffs with Tampa Bay, described the hype.
“The adrenaline kind of changes things,” he said. “I'm doing my best to try to slow my heart rate and stay calm and slow. It's easier said than done, but you've also got to feed off the energy. This is the best atmosphere to play in. Playoff baseball, there's nothing better than it.”
Game 2 will be interesting, since the Cubs used so many relievers Tuesday. Counsell doesn't want to exhaust his best relievers for a potential Game 3. It could be a day when a long reliever steps forward.
“I don't think our bullpen has an ego,” Kittredge said. “Everyone's just willing to take the ball whenever.”
Swanson saves
San Diego manager Mike Shildt called it the play of the game. The Padres had runners on the corners with one out in the fourth inning when Ryan O'Hearn hit a soft liner over the infield.
If the ball hits the ground, it's San Diego's second run and the threat continues. Instead, Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson made a nice over-the-shoulder catch to hold the runners, and pitcher Matthew Boyd ended the inning by retiring the next batter.
“Can't let it drop, as simple as it is,” Swanson said. “I was laughing with my mom and dad out there (on the field after the game). I dragged them out after watching my brother or sister's softball games many a times to make them throw fly balls over my head (in the backyard).
“So had a little bit of practice with it. We'll give them some credit for helping me make that play today.”
Game 2 opener
The Cubs announced Andrew Kittredge as Wednesday's starting pitcher for Game 2 after manager Craig Counsell had left the podium postgame.
It seems likely the right-handed Kittredge will serve as an opener for left-handed Shota Imanaga. The Cubs also have right-handed starter Colin Rea ready to go.
Former White Sox ace and Cubs draft pick Dylan Cease is set to start for San Diego.