Sheets’ pinch-hit homer and Padres bullpen finish 4-1 sweep of Cubs

Gavin Sheets’ pinch-hit, two-run homer restored breathing room for the Padres, and their bullpen finished a 4-1 win over the Cubs on Wednesday night at Petco Park. San Diego completed a two-game NL Wild Card Series sweep and advanced to face Milwaukee in the Division Series beginning Saturday.

Sheets’ fourth-inning drive came just after Chicago had cut a 2-0 deficit to one run. It was the last scoring play of the game, leaving the Padres’ relievers to protect a three-run advantage through the final five innings.

San Diego built its first lead in the second. Ty France doubled, Jackson Merrill singled and Xander Bogaerts singled to right to bring home France. Ethan Salas followed with a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Merrill and making it 2-0.

The Associated Press reported that Salas, 20, became the youngest player to catch a postseason game in major league history. His RBI helped give starter Nick Pivetta an early cushion, but Chicago’s fourth-inning rally forced San Diego to change pitchers.

Seiya Suzuki singled and eventually scored on Nico Hoerner’s single to center. Pivetta departed after recording one out in the inning, with one run, three hits and two walks allowed across 3⅓ innings. He struck out four.

Bradgley Rodríguez kept the lead intact. He struck out Matt Shaw, then hit Carson Kelly to load the bases before getting Dansby Swanson to fly out. Rodríguez also handled the fifth, finishing with 1⅔ hitless innings, one walk and two strikeouts. He earned the win.

Bogaerts doubled in the bottom of the fourth, and Sheets came off the bench to face Daniel Palencia after Kevin Gausman exited. Sheets drove a two-run homer to right, bringing home Bogaerts and extending the lead to 4-1.

Sheets was playing through a left-foot injury, according to AP and MLB’s report. MLB described a plantar plate tear that had limited his ability to contribute defensively. His pinch-hit appearance supplied the decisive extra offense without requiring an extended role in the field.

Jason Adam, Adrian Morejon and Mason Miller followed Rodríguez. Adam worked a hitless sixth, Morejon allowed one hit over two innings, and Miller gave up Hoerner’s double in the ninth but completed the save with two strikeouts. The four relievers combined for 5⅔ scoreless innings and allowed two hits.

Bogaerts, France and Merrill each had two hits as San Diego finished with eight. Hoerner collected two of Chicago’s five hits and its only RBI. Gausman took the loss after allowing three runs over 3⅓ innings.

After Tuesday’s 8-0 opener, the Padres again paired early offense with sustained pitching. Sheets’ swing ended the scoring, and the bullpen ensured San Diego would reach Milwaukee without needing a third game.