A pair of would-be third outs turned into runs in the bottom of the fifth inning of an eventual Padres’ 3-1 loss in the series opener against the Chicago Cubs, ending San Diego’s franchise-best 7-game win streak to open the season.

In a 1-1 game, starter Randy Vasquez retired the first two Cubs hitters of the inning before Ian Happ singled and Vasquez walked the bases loaded. Yuki Matsui relieved Vasquez and induced two ground balls but Seiya Suzuki beat out a Xander Bogaerts throw to second base in what was ruled a base hit and Manny Machado committed his first fielding error of the season the following at bat.

Vasquez walked three consecutive batters in the first inning to bring in the Cubs’ first run and back-to-back Chicago hitters in the fifth inning. In between, he retired 12 straight batters. He finished with 4-2/3 innings, two hits, three runs (two earned), two strikeouts and five walks.

The San Diego bats struggled against Cubs starter Shota Imanaga who went 7-1/3 innings and allowed just one run which came on a solo home run from catcher Martin Maldonado – his first since July 10, 2024.

The Padres threatened in the ninth when Bogaerts walked and Jackson Merrill followed that with a hard-hit single. Pinch-hitter Gavin Sheets moved both runners over with a groundout but Jake Cronenworth struck out to end the game.

It was the Padres’ first loss of the season. The 7-1 record through eight games is tied for the team’s best start in franchise history, having also done so in 1984 when they won the NL pennant.

Up next: The Padres will look to rebound from their first loss of the season in the middle game of a three-game set with the Cubs. Nick Pivetta and Matthew Boyd will make their second starts of the season with an 11:20 a.m. first pitch at Wrigley Field.