With the Cubs clinging to a one-run lead in the bottom of the eighth, Rougned Odor stepped in as the tying run for the Padres. He swung through a high fastball on the first pitch, but then dropped a single into the outfield. The fielder misplayed it, forcing Odor to push for second. While hustling, he appeared to pull his groin but still reached safely. He limped off, clearly hurt, but his gritty play gave San Diego a runner in scoring position when they needed it most.
The Padres brought in Ha-Seong Kim to pinch-run for Odor. Grisham followed with a walk, putting runners on first and second with no outs. Cubs manager David Ross called on Adbert Alzolay to calm things down. He delivered. First, he induced a sharp grounder to third that turned into a double play. It moved the tying run to third but gave them two outs. Then came Fernando Tatis Jr., the biggest threat in the lineup. Alzolay buried a slider, got a foul, then finished Tatis with a high fastball. The ump called it a swing and the replay backed it up.
Odor’s hustle gave the Padres a shot, but the Cubs’ bullpen slammed the door. They held the lead thanks to a sharp glove, a big pitch, and just enough help from home plate.