Hedges helps Padres top Cubs, end seven-game skid

[August 03, 2018]  Austin Hedges went 3-for-4 with a three-run homer, and left-hander Robbie Erlin and four relievers held the Chicago Cubs to three hits Thursday night as the San Diego Padres scored a 6-1 victory at Wrigley Field to snap a seven-game losing streak.

Erlin (2-3) held the Cubs to one run on two hits and a walk with four strikeouts over five innings. He was making his third start of the season and his first since May 21.

Manuel Margot had three hits and an RBI for the Padres, who got two hits apiece from Christian Villanueva and Freddy Galvis.

The Cubs took a 1-0 lead on an appeal play in the bottom of the fifth, but Hedges countered an inning later with his seventh homer of the season and third in a six-game span.

Cubs left-handed starter Mike Montgomery was pulled after issuing a one-out walk to Eric Hosmer in the sixth. Right-hander Jesse Chavez followed Montgomery and gave up a single to Villanueva ahead of Hedges' homer down the left field line.

The Padres, who were 2-14 over their previous 16 games and were 8-30 since June 15, scored a single run in the seventh and two more in the eighth.

Margot singled with one out in the seventh, moved to second on a walk and scored on Hosmer's two out single.

Galvis and pinch hitter A.J. Ellis had back-to-back, one-out doubles in the eighth, and Ellis later scored on a Margot grounder.

Padres center fielder Manuel Margot (7) is caught stealing and tagged out by Chicago Cubs second baseman Javier Baez (9) during the third inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Padres relievers Jose Castillo, Matt Strahm and Craig Stammen retired eight straight before Anthony Rizzo's infield single with two out in the eighth. Castillo struck out the side after hitting Rizzo with a pitch leading off the sixth.

Phil Maton worked a perfect ninth.

The Cubs broke a scoreless tie in the fifth. Willson Contreras drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third on Addison Russell's one-out single. Montgomery then hit a comebacker to Erlin, who got the force at second with Galvis throwing home when Contreras broke late. Contreras was called out, but the video review showed he got his hand under Hedges' tag on a head-first slide.

Two of the Cubs' three hits were infield singles.

--Field Level Media

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