San Diego Padres in dugout.San Diego Padres in dugout (Photo via X/Twitter)
The San Diego Padres couldn’t contain their anger after falling to the Chicago Cubs in the decisive third game of the NL Wild Card Series on Thursday evening.

Trailing 3-0 in the top of the ninth inning, Jackson Merrill got the Padres on the board with a solo shot into the right field seats. All-Star shortstop Xander Bogaerts then stepped up to the plate, with the tying runner standing beside him in the on-deck circle.

After working a 3-2 count, Bogaerts was run up for strike three by home plate umpire D.J. Reyburn on a pitch that was well outside the strike zone. The next two Padres reached base, but the rall ended with Jake Cronenworth grounding out and Freddy Fermin flying out to center field.

Here’s a video of the controversial call by Reyburn:


After the game, cameras caught San Diego Padres coaches and players getting into a furious confrontation with the umpires as they made their way to

The one positive is that MLB will introduce the ABS Challenge System in 2026, so teams will have the option to challenge egregious game-changing calls, such as the third strike on Xander Bogaerts.

San Diego Padres’ Bats Fell Short When It Mattered Most

Xander Bogaerts (Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images)
It’s easy for the San Diego Padres, coaches and fans to put the blame on the umpires, but at the end of the day, this high-powered lineup failed to deliver when it mattered most.

Fernando Tatís Jr. and Luis Arráez each went 0-for-4 in Game 3, with the former striking out three times. Veteran All-Star Manny Machado reached base on a walk, but was otherwise quiet with no hits.

You’re best players have to be your best players on the grandest stages. The Padres’ key players failed to step up, and it’s simply not the umpires’ fault that this potent lineup mustered just one run with the season on the line.

Another long winter awaits in San Diego, where GM AJ Preller will be tasked with adding more game-changers to a strong roster that hasn’t been able to get over the playoff hump.