Eight Hits in 18 Innings: San Diego Silences Baseball's Highest-Scoring Team

The Chicago Cubs scored more runs than anyone in the majors this season and hit more homers than any team in the National League. In two games at Petco Park, they got eight hits, seven of them singles, and one run.

San Diego finished the sweep with a 4-1 win on Wednesday night, a day after winning the opener 8-0. Pinch-hitter Gavin Sheets hit a two-run homer, Xander Bogaerts drove in the first run, and five Padres pitchers combined on a five-hitter. Closer Mason Miller gave up a ninth-inning double to Nico Hoerner, the Cubs' only extra-base hit of the series, then got the last out.

A year ago, Chicago knocked San Diego out in three games at Wrigley Field. This time it wasn't close.

A 20-year-old behind the plate

Ethan Salas started at catcher and became the youngest player ever to catch a postseason game. Born in June 2006, he broke a record Bob Didier set with the Braves in the 1969 NLCS. He also drove in a run.

Ethan Salas was called up on Sept. 1 and hit 10 for 24 to finish the season.

He made an impression before he ever batted. In the first inning, Salas challenged what would have been ball four to Alex Bregman, won the reversal through the automated ball-strike system, and watched Nick Pivetta strike Bregman out two pitches later.

The Padres called up their top prospect on Sept. 1. He went hitless in his first 15 at-bats, then went 10 for 24, and on Sept. 16 became the youngest catcher with a multi-homer game. "You add talent, you add character, and it adds up to a pretty nice little combo," manager Craig Stammen said.

20-3 and counting

San Diego is 20-3 since Sept. 5, and this was its fifth playoff series win in seven years. "We've already been to this part before, and we're all so hungry to go farther," Fernando Tatis Jr. said, cigar in hand.

Hoerner had half of Chicago's hits in the series and its only RBI. "We just didn't play well enough," Cubs manager Craig Counsell said.

The Padres move on to face the Brewers, who had the best record in baseball. Game 1 is Saturday at 8:30 p.m. ET in Milwaukee on FS1, and Game 2 is Sunday at 4 p.m. ET. Both are live on TVRivo.