 The 1984 Cubs were the best team Smith pitched for in his career . While they finished with the franchise 's best record and had their first postseason appearance since 1945 , Smith compiled his worst ERA of the decade — although he saved more than 30 games for the first time in his career . In Game 2 of the NL Championship Series , Smith recorded two outs for the save to give Chicago a 2 – 0 lead in the best @-@ of @-@ five series against the San Diego Padres , putting them one win away from the World Series . In Game 4 , the score was tied when Smith began the eighth inning . After a scoreless eighth and a strikeout to start the bottom of the ninth , Smith allowed a one @-@ out ninth @-@ inning single to Tony Gwynn , and Steve Garvey followed with a two @-@ run homer to force Game 5 . The Cubs led that game in the seventh inning , but the underdog Padres scored four runs and won a trip to the World Series . It would be the Cubs ' only winning season in Smith 's eight years with the team . 
