The Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the first and extended it to 3-0 by the second inning, thanks to timely hits from Michael Busch, B.J. Murray, and Justin Dean. Jacob Webb’s fourth‑inning walk‑off allowed the Padres to close the gap, but Kelly’s solo homer in the fifth gave Chicago a 4-3 advantage that held until the final inning.
Imanaga’s debut saw him pitch three innings, giving up three hits and one run while striking out once. His velocity was noticeably higher than last season, suggesting a recovery from a hamstring injury that limited his power earlier. The game’s warm February weather added to the excitement at Sloan Park.