Manny Machado, Mason Miller Wow Fans as Padres Beat Cubs, Force Game 3 in MLB Playoffs

Manny Machado's fifth inning, two-run homer propelled the San Diego Padres to a 3-0 road victory over the host Chicago Cubs on Wednesday in Game 2 of their National League Wild Card Series, setting up a winner-take-all Game 3 on Thursday.

Machado took a first-pitch, 84-mph splitter from left-handed Shota Imanaga and smacked a 404-foot shot over the left field fence, giving San Diego a 3-0 edge. He scored outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr., who singled and advanced to second on first baseman Luis Arráez's sacrifice bunt.

With first base open, the Cubs opted to pitch to Machado, who made them pay.

In the first inning, outfielder Jackson Merrill gave San Diego a 1-0 lead after his sacrifice fly scored Tatis, who singled to lead off the game.

Tatis then advanced to second on an Arráez single before the two executed a double steal to put themselves in scoring position.

Dylan Cease got the start for San Diego, but this ended up being all hands on deck for the Padres, who used four pitchers to get the job done. Cease, Adrian Morejon, Mason Miller and closer Robert Suárez combined to throw a shutout, striking out 11 batters while allowing just four hits, two walks and a hit-by-pitch.

Miller was particularly remarkable, striking out five over 1.2 frames over the seventh and eighth innings. He got five straight punchouts before hitting Michael Busch with a pitch. However, Suárez then arrived for the four-out save.

Simply put, Miller was throwing gas, even hitting a history-making 104.5 mph on the radar to strike catcher Carson Kelly out looking in the seventh.

Ultimately, the individual stories here were Machado, who hit his 12th career playoff homer, and Miller, who has struck out eight of his nine batters faced this postseason. Both received well-deserved credit from fans and analysts.

Game 3 will take place in Chicago on Thursday at 3:08 p.m. ET. ABC will air the matchup.