The Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the first inning and extended it to 3-0 before the Padres rallied in the fourth. Shōta Imanaga, in his first start, allowed three hits and struck out once, but the Padres scored two runs on a double by former Cub Nick Castellanos.
Carson Kelly delivered the decisive blow in the fifth, hitting a solo homer that gave the Cubs a 4-2 advantage. The Cubs added two more runs in the fifth and held on for a 6-5 victory, with Kelly driving in two of the runs.