CHICAGO -- Cubs manager Craig Counsell defended his decision to leave lefty Shota Imanaga in the game to face righty Manny Machado in the fifth inning of the San Diego Padres ' victory in Game 2 of the NL Wild Card Series on Wednesday.

Machado hit a first pitch splitter for a two-run home run, extending the Padres' lead to 3-0, the eventual final score.

A deciding Game 3 will be at Wrigley Field on Thursday.

"The results suggest that we should have done something different," Counsell said after the loss. "Really just confidence in Shota, plain and simple there. I thought he was pitching well. I thought he was throwing the ball really well and, unfortunately, he made a mistake."

The decision came after Fernando Tatis Jr . walked and then took second on Luis Arraez 's sacri

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