CHICAGO (Interstat) — A dominant pitching performance and timely hitting propelled the Chicago Cubs to a series-clinching 3-1 victory over the San Diego Padres in Game 3 of their National League playoff series Thursday night at a raucous Wrigley Field.

With the win, the Cubs advance in the postseason, having taken the best-of-three series two games to one. The game, played before a sold-out crowd of 40,895, lasted 3 hours.

The Cubs seized control early against Padres ace Yu Darvish. In the second inning, Kyle Tucker and Seiya Suzuki ignited the rally with a single and a double, respectively. After Carson Kelly was hit by a pitch to load the bases, rookie Pete Crow-Armstrong delivered a clutch single to center field, scoring Tucker. Dansby Swanson then worked a bases-loaded walk to force in Suzuki, giving Chicago a 2-0 lead.

That proved to be all the support the Cubs’ bullpen would need. Starter Jameson Taillon set the tone with four scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and striking out four. He handed the game over to a parade of relievers who effectively stifled the Padres’ offense.

Daniel Palencia, who earned the win to improve to 3-6, provided 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. The Cubs’ bullpen combined to allow just one run on five hits over the final five innings.

The Cubs added a crucial insurance run in the seventh when Michael Busch launched a solo home run to right-center field off reliever Michael King. Busch finished the night 3 for 4, leading a Cubs offense that amassed 13 hits but repeatedly stranded runners, going 1 for 11 with men in scoring position.

San Diego’s lone run came in the ninth inning on a solo home run by Jackson Merrill off closer Andrew Kittredge. The Padres then mounted a final threat, as Ryan O’Hearn and Bryce Johnson were both hit by pitches, putting the tying runs in scoring position with two outs. Kittredge, however, induced a sharp flyout from Freddy Fermin to end the game, securing his sixth save of the season.

The Padres, who finished with seven hits, struggled to capitalize on opportunities, most notably in the fifth inning when they left runners at second and third. Darvish, the losing pitcher, fell to 5-6 after surrendering two runs on eight hits over four innings of work.

Jeremiah Estrada was a bright spot for San Diego, tossing two scoreless innings of relief with two strikeouts.

The victory caps a successful series for the Cubs, who now hold a 94-71 overall record. The Padres’ season ends with a 91-74 mark.