Shota Imanaga’s fake start still falls victim to Machado’s two-run homer as the Padres shut out the Cubs to even the series

San Diego Padres star third baseman Manny Machado hit a crucial two-run homer, leaving a lasting impression on 32-year-old Japanese left-hander Shota Imanaga in his MLB postseason debut. The Padres blanked the Chicago Cubs 3-0 on the road early today, leveling the series 1-1. The teams will face off again tomorrow at 3 a.m. at the Cubs’ home for a decisive game.

The Cubs assigned 35-year-old right-hander Andrew Kittredge, who earned his first career postseason save last night after pitching the eighth inning, as a “fake starter.” In the top of the first inning, Padres leadoff hitters Fernando Tatis and Luis Arraez hit consecutive singles; although Machado struck out swinging, the duo successfully executed a double steal, and then Jackson Merrill’s sacrifice fly brought home a run, giving the Padres an early lead.

In the top of the second inning, Shota Imanaga took the mound and retired the side in order, but the next three innings saw runners consistently reach scoring position. He escaped danger in the third and fourth innings, but in the top of the fifth, after one out, he walked Tatis, the Padres had Arraez bunt him over, then Machado swung immediately and crushed the first pitch—a forkball down the middle—into a two-run homer to left field.

Starting from the sixth inning, the Cubs used four bullpen pitchers in relief without allowing any more runs. However, their offense was stifled by Dylan Cease, Adrian Morejon, Mason Miller, and Robert Suarez, managing only four hits all game. The only extra-base hit was Seiya Suzuki’s double off Cease with two outs in the bottom of the fourth.

After Suzuki’s double, the Cubs’ coaching staff intentionally walked Carson Kelly and promptly pulled Cease, who finished with 3.2 innings pitched, allowing 3 hits, striking out 5, walking 1, and giving up no runs. The win was credited to Cuban lefty Morejon, who pitched 2.1 perfect innings. Cease’s career postseason ERA dropped from 12.91 to 8.74, finally returning to a single-digit figure before the decimal point.

Shota Imanaga’s stat line in his MLB postseason debut reads: 4 innings of relief, 3 hits allowed, 2 runs given up, 3 strikeouts, and 1 walk. Since Kittredge had already allowed runs earlier and the Cubs’ offense remained scoreless, Imanaga was not charged with the decision.

The Cubs have yet to confirm their starting pitcher for Game 3 of the series, while the Padres will send out 39-year-old Japanese veteran Yu Darvish. Due to injury, Darvish did not return to the mound until July this season. In the regular season, he started 15 games, pitched 72 innings, posted a 5-5 record with a 5.38 ERA, marking his worst season in 13 years since joining MLB.