Padres 6, Cubs 1: Erlin, Hedges snap losing streak

After losing a brutal seven games in a row to end July, the Padres have started August on the right foot. And it wasn’t just a win, but a resounding victory over the best team in the National League. Robbie Erlin twirled a gem in his spot start, allowing just one run on two hits over five innings. He was backed up by an unusually effective offense that went 15-for-40 and only struck out twice. The capper to that hit parade was a massive three-run bomb by Austin Hedges that put the boys on top of the Cubs.

Erlin was cruising along all night; he didn’t even allow a hit until the fourth inning. The Cubs only managed to score on a challenge. Wilson Contreras drew a walk to lead off the fifth and went to third on a one-out single from Addison Russell. It looked like the inning ended on a 1-6-2 double play, but Contreras narrowly dodged the tag at the plate.

The Cubs’ lead didn’t last long. Eric Hosmer drew a one out walk in the sixth, and a Christian Villanueva single put a pair of runners on for Austin Hedges, who punished Jesse Chavez.

The Padres added another in the seventh on a couple of singles and a walk. But that wasn’t enough, so they piled on another pair thanks to a few more hits in the eighth.

Get ready for some day baseball tomorrow, as Tyson Ross takes the mound in game two. First pitch at 11:20 AM.