SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — Pete Crow-Armstrong hit a two-run home run and Matt Shaw added a solo shot as the Chicago Cubs defeated the San Diego Padres 5-4 on Wednesday evening at PETCO Park.

The Cubs, who have won 12 of their last 15 games, improved to 19-12. The Padres dropped to 19-11.

Chicago struck first in the second inning. Michael Conforto led off with a double, advanced to third on a groundout by Shaw and scored on a single by Miguel Amaya to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead.

The Cubs extended the lead in the fourth. Shaw reached on a bunt single and Crow-Armstrong followed with his third homer of the season, a drive down the right-field line that made it 3-0.

Padres starter Matt Waldron allowed three runs on six hits over five innings, striking out one.

San Diego answered in the fifth. Miguel Andujar led off with a solo homer to left, his first of the year. After a walk to Jake Cronenworth, Nick Castellanos crushed a two-run homer to left-center, tying the game 3-3.

Chicago regained the lead in the sixth. Michael Busch walked, Conforto reached on a fielder’s choice and Shaw doubled to put runners at second and third. Crow-Armstrong grounded out to first, scoring Conforto to make it 4-3.

Shaw provided an insurance run in the eighth with his third homer of the season, a solo shot to left.

The Padres cut the deficit to one in the bottom of the eighth. Nick Castellanos walked, Luis Campusano walked and Jackson Merrill walked to load the bases. Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a sacrifice fly to center, scoring Castellanos. Manny Machado grounded into a double play to end the inning.

Cubs closer Hoby Milner retired the Padres in order in the ninth, striking out two to earn his first save.

Cubs starter Jameson Taillon earned the win, improving to 2-1. He pitched seven innings, allowing three runs on three hits with six strikeouts. He did not walk a batter.

Adrian Morejon took the loss for San Diego, falling to 2-1.

Chicago’s pitching staff combined for 15 strikeouts, 61 balls and 15 balls in play. San Diego pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts, 41 balls and 13 balls in play.

The Cubs had nine hits in the game. Conforto doubled, Shaw had three hits including a double and a home run, and Amaya singled. The Padres managed only three hits: Andujar’s homer, Castellanos’ homer and a single by Tatis.

Attendance was 36,513. The game lasted 2 hours, 48 minutes.

The Cubs return home to face the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday. The Padres host the Chicago White Sox on Friday.

Interstat’s game simulator projected a final score of Chicago Cubs 8, San Diego Padres 7. Interstat’s ELO system gave the Padres a 50.90 percent probability to win. The Cubs were installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 1.5.