Cubs smack 8 homers, score 23 runs while steamrolling Padres

Dansby Swanson hit three home runs and Michael Conforto hit two as the host Chicago Cubs hammered the San Diego Padres 23-3 on Wednesday.

The Cubs, who had not hit more than three home runs in a game all season heading into the series, hit five home runs Tuesday in a 9-7 win and eight on Wednesday to sweep the series and win their fifth consecutive game.

Seiya Suzuki, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Michael Busch also hit home runs for the Cubs, who tied a franchise record for home runs in a game.

Swanson, who had eight RBI, has five homers in the last two games and nine home runs in his last 13 games.

Last week against the Mets, Swanson had 15 RBI in three games, including 11 in a doubleheader with a grand slam and a three-run home run.

Wednesday he hit a solo shot in the second to give the Cubs a 4-0 lead, added a three-run shot in the third to make it 9-0 Chicago, then smashed a grand slam in the eighth when the Cubs scored eight with catcher Rodolfo Duran pitching.

The Padres lost their fifth straight game while sustaining the worst defeat in franchise history. They previously lost by 19 runs on three occasions (twice in 1969, once in 2005).

San Diego starter Walker Buehler (5-4) gave up a career-high nine runs on seven hits in four innings. The right-hander walked four and struck out six in 85 pitches.

Colin Rea (6-5) was the beneficiary of all the Cubs power. Rea gave up two runs and six hits in five innings. The right-hander walked three and struck out five in 81 pitches.

The Cubs wasted little time in getting on the board and Crow-Armstrong led off the first with a single and Alex Bregman walked.

Suzuki made it 3-0 with a one-out drive over the center-field wall for the 100th home run of his career. He is the fourth Japanese player with 100 home runs.

Swanson hit his first home run to make it a four-run lead in the second and Chicago put the game away with five in the third.

Suzuki walked with one out and Ian Happ doubled to right.

Conforto was walked intentionally with two outs and Miguel Amaya made the Padres pay with a full-count, two-run single to center for a 6-0 Cubs lead.

Swanson followed with his second homer to give Chicago a nine-run lead

Sung-Mun Song hit his first Major League home run to lead off the fifth for the Padres and Ty France doubled in a run later in the inning to make it 9-2.

--Field Level Media