Justin Turner's error allows Fernando Tatis Jr. to score go-ahead run in Padres' 8-7 win over Cubs

CHICAGO (AP) — Luis Arraez had four hits, Fernando Tatis Jr. scored the go-ahead run in the ninth inning when first baseman Justin Turner couldn't make the catch to finish a double play, and the San Diego Padres beat the Chicago Cubs 8-7 on Sunday.

The Padres' Gavin Sheets singled off Porter Hodge to tie it in the eighth.

Jackson Merrill homered for the Padres, who had lost two straight after opening the season with seven consecutive victories for the best start in franchise history.

Kyle Tucker homered and drove in three runs and Nico Hoerner added three hits for the Cubs, whose five-game win streak ended.

Ryan Pressly (0-1) took the loss after allowing one hit and a walk in the ninth. Robert Suarez threw a perfect ninth for his fourth save.

The Padres went ahead 3-0 in the first inning. Ben Brown allowed two walks and a bunt single before hitting Jake Cronenworth to bring in a run. Xander Bogaerts reached on an infield single and Jason Heyward walked to score the other runs.

The Cubs scored five runs in the bottom of the first. After Kyle Hart issued two walks, Tucker singled, Justin Turner had a sacrifice fly and Hoerner doubled to tie it. Logan Gillaspie, called up from Triple-A El Paso before the game, replaced Hart and was called for two balks while pitching to Carson Kelly, scoring two runs.

Tucker hit a two-run homer in the second inning for his fifth, tied for the NL lead.

Merrill drove a two-run shot off Brown in the fourth.

With runners on first and second in the ninth, Manny Machado hit a grounder to shortstop. Dansby Swanson threw to second to start the try for a double play, but Hoerner's relay to first got past Turner. That allowed Tatis to come around to score.

Tucker, acquired in a December trade with Houston, now has 15 RBIs to lead the NL.

The Padres had yet to announce their starter for Monday’s series opener against the A’s.

LHP Justin Steele (2-1, 6.89 ERA) is scheduled to start Monday for the Cubs against Texas. RHP Nathan Eovaldi (1-0, 1.20) is slated to pitch for the Rangers.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Chicago Cubs' Justin Turner (3) hits an RBI sacrifice fly during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

Chicago Cubs' Kyle Tucker (30) hits an RBI single during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

Chicago Cubs' Ian Happ (8) celebrates with manager Craig Counsell, right, after scoring during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

San Diego Padres catcher Elias Díaz (17) tags Chicago Cubs' Dansby Swanson (7) out during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

Chicago Cubs' Seiya Suzuki slides into home plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

San Diego Padres pitcher Kyle Hart (68) reacts after being relieved during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

San Diego Padres' Jackson Merrill celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

San Diego Padres' Manny Machado celebrates in the dugout after scoring during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

Chicago Cubs' Kyle Tucker, center, and Ian Happ (8) celebrate after scoring on Tucker's two-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

Umpires talk to San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt (8) about a balk call during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong (4) scores during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

San Diego Padres' Jackson Merrill (3) and teammates pose for a photo in the dugout after he hit a two-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

San Diego Padres pitcher Robert Suarez reacts after a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

San Diego Padres first baseman Luis Arraez (4) and outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) high-five after a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. scores during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. celebrates in the dugout after he scores during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Matt Marton)

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — Brad Marchand is a professional hockey player and professional chirper. He's excellent at hockey. He might be even better at chirping.

A chirp, loosely defined in hockey terms, is an insult. A wisecrack. The ones toward opponents, you might (and probably do) mean those. The ones toward teammates, not so much.

Which brings us to the Florida Panthers' locker room on Thursday night, after Marchand scored his first goal for his new team — the first time he scored in the NHL for anyone other than the Boston Bruins.

Teammate Evan Rodrigues was asked what he thought of the goal.

“He's a rat," Rodrigues said. "Yeah, I wasn't too happy.”

Marchand, sitting nearby, smiled broadly when he heard. Obviously, Marchand wasn’t going to let Rodrigues’ chirp go unanswered.

“He’s not wrong,” Marchand said. “I’ve hated him. We skated together in the summer and I’ve hated him for a long time, so that’s not going to change now.”

Let's be perfectly clear here: Neither Rodrigues nor Marchand was being serious. (We don't think so, anyway.) But the fact that Rodrigues even tried to pull off a chirp while talking to about a dozen reporters helps to illustrate one of the things that Marchand brings to the Stanley Cup champions.

He has swagger; if the Panthers wondered about that, he joined the team group chat with — what else? — a chirp as his introduction. He's cocky. He's a talker. Those are all good things come playoff time, with the Panthers set to start defense of the Cup in the next couple of weeks.

“That’s a part of the package and an important part of it," Panthers coach Paul Maurice said. "Everybody’s going to be wired here in 10 days, whatever it is, two weeks. Especially right now, grinding through some of these, he brings lots of energy, right? He’s got lots to say and it makes it fun.”

Marchand's goal capped a three-goal second period for Florida, one that gave the Panthers a 3-1 lead on the way to a 4-1 win over the Detroit Red Wings.

Marchand was playing in his eighth game for Florida, after the team pulled off a stunning move at the trade deadline and acquired him from the Bruins — who have been a postseason rival of the Panthers in recent years. Many in the crowd Thursday gave a standing ovation when the goal was announced as Marchand's “22nd of the season and first as a Florida Panther.”

Marchand had two assists in his first seven games with Florida, including one in his debut with the Panthers on March 28 that set up an overtime winner by Sam Bennett. Marchand's first goal came on his 15th shot with Florida.

“I’m just enjoying this whole journey," Marchand said. “It’s such a unique experience for myself and I’ve been part of really good teams that have accomplished big things and some that haven’t. Regardless, what you realize is that these opportunities are very few and far between and you've got to enjoy every day in this league. And I’m having a lot of fun right now.”

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) celebrates his goal during the second period of an NHL hockey game against the Detroit Red Wings, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) and goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (72) talk at the end of an NHL hockey game against the Detroit Red Wings, Thursday, April 10, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Toronto Maple Leafs right wing William Nylander (88) skates with the puck as Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand, left, defends during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Toronto Maple Leafs right wing Mitch Marner (16) defends a shot on the goal by Florida Panthers center Brad Marchand (63) during the third period of an NHL hockey game, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in Sunrise, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)