Major League Baseball adopted the best-of-three game Wild Card format in 2022. Since then the team that wins Game 1 has won the series.

Every. Single. Time.

So, that should add some context to just how vital the Padres 3-1 loss to the Cubs in Game 1 of their National League Wild Card series at Wrigley Field is. San Diego is one win away from elimination in a format that has never been kind to teams trying to overcome a deficit.

The Padres got on the board in the 2nd inning. Jackson Merrill led off with a double and scored when Xander Bogaerts doubled right behind him. An errant throw sent Bogaerts to 3rd base with nobody out. But, San Diego's trouble with situational hitting came back to bite them again.

Ryan O'Hearn grounded out on a nice diving play by shortstop Dansby Swanson and Ga

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