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Padres Shut Out Cubs 8-0 as Joe Musgrove Makes His Postseason Comeback
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- Padres Shut Out Cubs 8-0 as Joe Musgrove Makes His Postseason Comeback
Jackson Merrill l had a simple reaction after watching Joe Musgrove return to the mound for the San Diego Padres in the postseason.
"That was awesome," Merrilll said after the Padres' 8-0 win over the Chicago Cubs in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series, according to Annie Heilbrunn.
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Musgrove made his surprise return in the ninth inning after the Padres added him to their postseason roster. The longtime San Diego pitcher received a loud ovation from the Petco Park crowd as he entered the game.
Merrilll said he got goosebumps while running onto the field for Musgrove's appearance. The young outfielder also mentioned how much he enjoyed hearing Musgrove's familiar walkout song again.
The moment added another emotional layer to an already memorable night for San Diego. The Padres dominated the Cubs from the opening pitch, taking a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series.
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Musgrove's appearance was especially notable because he had not pitched in a major league game since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2024. The Padres brought him back for a potential bullpen role after he worked his way back from the elbow injury.
Merrilll also played a key role in the victory, collecting two hits and driving in two runs. His production helped San Diego build an early cushion before the bullpen finished the shutout.
San Diego Padres center fielder Jackson Merrilll (3) © Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Michael King did most of the heavy lifting on the mound, holding Chicago to one hit over seven scoreless innings while striking out eight. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado also homered as the Padres took control of the series.
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Now, San Diego will look to finish the job in Game 2. For Merrilll, though, seeing Musgrove back on a postseason mound was one of the night's most memorable moments.
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This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Sep 30, 2026, where it first appeared in the MLB section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
