The Chicago Cubs rallied past the San Diego Padres 9-7 at Wrigley Field on Tuesday, June 30, erasing a one-run deficit and leaning on a monster performance from Dansby Swanson to close out the win. Swanson went 3-for-4 with two home runs and three RBI, anchoring an offense that pounded out nine runs against a Padres staff that simply couldn't hold leads. Alex Bregman added a homer and three RBI of his own, and the Cubs got just enough from their bullpen late to seal the two-run victory and head into July on a winning note.

Swanson and Bregman Carry the Cubs Offense

This one belonged to Dansby Swanson. The Cubs shortstop was locked in from the jump, finishing 3-for-4 with a pair of home runs and three RBI — the kind of all-around offensive performance Chicago needs night in and night out to compete in the NL Central. He wasn't alone. Alex Bregman was every bit as dangerous, going 1-for-3 with a solo blast and driving in three runs total, continuing to look like one of the more impactful additions to this roster.

Michael Busch and Pete Crow-Armstrong each chipped in solo home runs, giving the Cubs four long balls on the night. That's the kind of lineup depth that makes this team dangerous. Seiya Suzuki went 2-for-5 and kept rallies alive throughout the game, while catcher Carson Kelly contributed a 2-for-4 effort with an RBI. When this offense is clicking across the board like it did Tuesday, it's hard to hold them down for long.

Boyd Grinds Through Five, Bullpen Does Just Enough

Matthew Boyd earned the win, but it wasn't a clean outing. The left-hander went five innings, allowing three earned runs on eight hits while striking out two and walking nobody. Boyd kept the Cubs in the game with solid command — zero walks in five frames is a positive sign — but eight hits allowed shows there's still work to do in terms of missing bats. Still, he gave the Cubs a chance, and that's all you can ask from a starting pitcher.

The real trouble came from Javier Assad in relief. Assad was tagged for four earned runs over 2.2 innings, giving up five hits and two walks, and the Padres used that stretch to claw back into the game and briefly threaten to steal it. That's a performance Assad will need to clean up as the regular season approaches.

Tyler Ferguson bailed the Cubs out with a clean inning — one strikeout, no hits, no runs — and Ryan Rolison closed the door in the ninth with a scoreless 0.1-inning stint to earn the save. Ferguson's effort was the turning point. After Assad's struggles opened the door for San Diego, Ferguson slammed it shut and allowed the offense to do its thing down the stretch.

Tatis, Machado Keep Padres Dangerous Until the End

Give San Diego credit — this wasn't a passive opponent. Fernando Tatis Jr. went 2-for-5 with two home runs and two RBI, looking every bit the offensive threat he is. Manny Machado went 2-for-5 with a homer and two RBI, and Gavin Sheets did real damage off the bench, going 1-for-2 with a three-run blast that made things very uncomfortable in the middle innings. The Padres put up seven runs for a reason. JP Sears took the loss after allowing six earned runs over 4.2 innings, but San Diego's lineup was never out of it.

Key Performances at a Glance

  • Dansby Swanson: 3-for-4, 2 HR, 3 RBI
  • Alex Bregman: 1-for-3, 1 HR, 3 RBI
  • Michael Busch: 1-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI
  • Pete Crow-Armstrong: 1-for-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI
  • Seiya Suzuki: 2-for-5
  • Carson Kelly: 2-for-4, 1 RBI
  • Matthew Boyd (W): 5.0 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, 2 K, 0 BB
  • Tyler Ferguson: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 K
  • Ryan Rolison (SV): 0.1 IP, 0 H, 0 ER

What's Next for the Cubs

Chicago heads into July with a statement win, having erased a deficit against a legitimate Padres lineup and come out with a two-run victory. The home run ball was flying at Wrigley Field on Tuesday night, and Swanson's breakout performance is exactly the kind of production the Cubs need from their veteran core. The bullpen situation — specifically Assad's rough outing — is something Craig Counsell's staff will want to address, but Tuesday belonged to the bats. The Cubs will look to build on this momentum in their next series as the summer schedule heats up.