Shota Imanaga got an out in the eighth inning for the first time in his Major League Baseball career as the Chicago Cubs beat the San Diego Padres 3-1 in the home opener at Wrigley Field. Imanaga pitched 7 1/3 innings, allowing just four hits and one run with four strikeouts to earn his second win of the 2025 season. Porter Hodge followed Imanaga in relief and got the final two outs in the eighth. Ryan Pressley came on for the ninth and gave up a hit and a walk before striking out Jake Cronenworth to earn his third save of the season.

The Cubs got on the board in the bottom of the first when Nico Hoerner drew a walk with the bases loaded to drive in Ian Happ who led off the game with a single. Happ had two hits on the afternoon and is off to a very good start this season.

Martin Maldonado tied the game for the Padres with a solo home run in the top of the third inning.

The game stayed tied until the bottom of the fifth inning. After Seiya Suzuki walked to load the bases with two outs, San Diego brought in left-hander Yuki Matsui. Chicago manager Craig Counsell countered that move by pinch hitting Justin Turner for Michael Bush. Turner hit an infield single to drive in Happ. Dansby Swanson followed with a hard hit grounder to Manny Machado that the Padres third baseman could not handle. Kyle Tucker came in to score to give the Cubs their third run of the game. That would prove to be enough with the strong pitching performance the Cubs got on the afternoon.

The Padres and Cubs will play again on Saturday at 1:20 with Nick Pavetta pitching for San Diego and Matthew Boyd going for Chicago.