Chicago Cubs vs. San Diego Padres
The road trip to my 30th Major League ballpark has officially begun! My journey down south kicked off with a stop at historic Wrigley Field in Chicago to watch the Cubs take on the San Diego Padres.
- 3rd visit to Wrigley Field
- 3rd different Cubs’ matchup
- 3rd different ballpark watching the Padres
I drove down from Minneapolis and parked at Linden, which made for a smooth train ride to the stadium. One of the best parts of this journey is the people I see along the way, and I was thrilled to meet up with Erika before the game, who currently works for the Cubs and whom I had previously met in Minnesota.
Walking Wrigleyville
I arrived at the Addison stop about 3:30 p.m. for the 7:05 p.m. Monday night game, and Wrigleyville was already filled with Cubs and Padres fans buzzing with excitement for the matchup. Before heading inside, I took a walk around the stadium’s historic exterior to soak in the atmosphere.
I couldn’t miss the iconic Wrigley Field marquee, which perfectly set the stage by displaying “SHO TIME 7:05 P.M.”
It was incredible to see the statues honoring Cubs legends, including Harry Caray at the Budweiser Bleachers entrance, Ryne Sandberg, and Ron Santo.
Seat Selection
Section 222 Row 7
Once inside the Friendly Confines, I made my way to my spot for the evening. This was a fun milestone for me, as it was my first time getting a ticket on the lower level! Anyone who has been to Wrigley Field knows that the historic architecture can sometimes make sightlines tricky, so I was absolutely thrilled to have a seat completely free from any pillar obstructions, giving me a perfect, clear view of the field.
Ballpark Food of Choice
You can’t catch a game in Chicago without indulging in the local staples. For this visit, I went with the Italian Beef and Sausage Sandwich. It was exactly the kind of hearty meal you need to fuel a massive baseball road trip, and I washed it down perfectly with a soda in a commemorative Cubs souvenir cup.
Game Highlights
Right before the first pitch, I checked out the starting lineups on the Wintrust video board. The matchup did not disappoint, ending in a dramatic 3-2 win for the Cubs.
- Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga had a fantastic outing, pitching into the seventh inning and successfully keeping the Padres in the ballpark.
- In the fifth, Seiya Suzuki hit a clutch sacrifice fly to deep center field, allowing Dansby Swanson to hustle home and tie the game at 2-2.
- The magic happened in the bottom of the ninth when Suzuki hit a deep fly ball off the ivy-covered wall for a walk-off single against Padres closer Mason Miller.
With Wrigley Field in the books, I’ll be breaking up the rest of the drive by checking out some incredible minor league parks in Memphis and Nashville on Tuesday and Wednesday.