Padres vs Cubs Recap: Tatis, Sheets power dramatic 9-7 win for Cubs

The Padres came to Chicago looking to bounce back after losing the night before. Wrigleyville was buzzing as both teams took the field at Wrigley Field. Right away, Fernando Tatis Jr. showed why he's one of baseball's most electric players. He crushed the first pitch he saw from Matthew Boyd into left field—a 425-foot rocket that made the scoreboard light up. Padres led 1-0. But Chicago answered fast. The Cubs tied it immediately when Carson Kelly singled to center, and Seiya Suzuki raced home. Then Dansby Swanson stepped up and launched a 432-foot bomb to center field. Bregman followed with a three-run blast to left-center. Just like that, the Cubs were up 5-1.

Manny Machado wasn't going to let the Cubs run away with this game. In the third inning, the Padres captain launched a 372-foot home run to right field, bringing Freddy Fermin home with him. Score was now 5-3. But Chicago kept swinging. Michael Busch crushed one to right-center, pushing the lead back to 6-3. Then Swanson stepped up again and hit his second home run of the day—a 437-footer to left-center that scored Ian Happ. The Cubs were up 8-3. San Diego wasn't finished either. Gavin Sheets delivered huge, launching a three-run shot. Tatis followed with another bomb to right-center. Suddenly the Padres were only down one at 9-7.

Chicago's pitchers managed to keep the Padres from tying it up in the ninth. The Cubs' bullpen held strong, with Ryan Rolison slamming the door with a save. When the final out was made, the scoreboard read 9-7. The Cubs improved to 49-38 and stretched their winning streak to five games. They're playing hot baseball heading into the All-Star break. San Diego fell to 43-42 and dropped their fifth straight. Both teams showed they could hit with power—this game had home runs everywhere. Tatis Jr. finished with two home runs and two runs scored. The Cubs' young lineup came through in the clutch. Chicago's defense and timely hitting proved to be the difference down the stretch.