Left-hander Tsuyoshi Wada struck out nine in 4 2-3 innings in his season debut and Kris Bryant drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 3-2 victory against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday night.
Wada opened the season on the disabled list with a left groin strain and made six rehab starts. He struck out seven of the first nine Padres batters.
His only mistake was allowing a two-run homer to Justin Upton to straightaway center field to give the Padres a 2-1 lead with two outs in the fourth. It was his team-leading 11th, and Derek Norris was aboard on a one-out single.
The Cubs retook the lead in the fifth against Tyson Ross (2-4). Wada drew a leadoff walk and scored on Dexter Fowler's triple to right, just beating the relay throw by Jedd Gyorko. Fowler came in on Bryant's sac fly to left.
Wada allowed two runs and four hits.
Justin Grimm (1-0) got the win after pitching 1 1-3 scoreless innings. He struck out three and walked two. Hector Rondon pitched the ninth for his ninth save in 11 chances, striking out Abraham Almonte with a runner on third to end the game.
The Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the first when Bryant singled with one out, advanced when Anthony Rizzo was hit by a pitch, stole third and scored on Starlin Castro's groundout.
Chicago Baseball
Ross (2-4) allowed three runs and four hits in seven innings, struck out eight and walked three.
