Happ plays 1,000th game for Cubs, who pound Padres 7-1

Ian Happ played in his 1,000th major league game on Saturday — all with the Chicago Cubs.

It’s a rare accomplishment, too.

Happ became only the eighth active player with 1,000 games with one team, according to the Elias Soorts Bureau, joining a group that includes Aaron Judge, Mike Trout and José Ramírez. He is the 21st player to appear in at least his first 1,000 games with Chicago, according to the team.

Happ, Mark Grace and Shawon Dunston are the only players drafted by the Cubs to play in 1,000 games with the franchise.

The Cubs paid tribute to Happ as he walked to the plate in the first inning against San Diego. Happ took off his batting helmet and patted his chest to acknowledge the cheering crowd at Wrigley Field. Then the 30-year-old switch hitter drove a leadoff double off the wall in center.

He has appeared in 480 of Chicago’s last 497 games.

Dansby Swanson and Carson Kelly homered, and Matthew Boyd threw six scoreless innings as the Cubs throttled the visiting Padres 7-1.

The Cubs are atop the Central Division with a 7-4 record and a five-game winning streak.



(AP Photo Erin Hooley)