In a taut playoff opener that had Wrigley Field buzzing like the ivy-covered walls in October, the Chicago Cubs clawed their way to a 3-1 victory over the San Diego Padres in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series. The deciding moment? A thunderous fifth-inning rally featuring back-to-back home runs from Seiya Suzuki and Carson Kelly, transforming a tense pitcher’s duel into a North Side celebration.
The afternoon affair started as a low-scoring affair, with Cubs starter Justin Steele and Padres ace Nick Pivetta trading zeros through four innings. San Diego drew first blood in the top of the fourth, capitalizing on a leadoff single and a pair of sharp singles to plate Xander Bogaerts for a 1-0 lead. But Chicago’s defense held firm—shortstop Dansby Swanson’s sprawling catch in shallow center robbed Manny Machado of extra bases, stranding runners and keeping the game within reach.
Then came the fireworks. Trailing by one in the bottom of the fifth, the Cubs loaded the bases on a walk, a hit-by-pitch, and a single. Pivetta, acquired by San Diego in the offseason to anchor their rotation, buckled under the pressure. Seiya Suzuki, Chicago’s unflappable outfielder, crushed a 2-2 fastball into the right-field bleachers for a game-tying solo shot—his 28th of the season and a dagger that silenced the Padres’ dugout. But the drama didn’t end there. Catcher Carson Kelly, a midseason trade acquisition who’s become the heartbeat of the Cubs’ lineup, followed with a no-doubter of his own, a towering drive to left-center that sailed over the 368-foot sign. Back-to-back blasts. Just like that, Wrigley erupted, and the Cubs owned a 3-1 cushion they’d never relinquish.
“Suzuki’s swing was pure, and Kelly? That was vintage Wrigley magic,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said postgame, grinning ear-to-ear. “These guys don’t flinch. This is what October’s for.” The duo’s power surge not only erased the deficit but showcased Chicago’s revamped offense, which ranked fourth in MLB with 4.8 runs per game during the regular season. Suzuki, batting .285 with a flair for clutch hits, pumped his fist toward the crowd as he rounded the bases; Kelly, mobbed at home plate by teammates, simply pointed skyward—a nod to the fans who packed the 41,649 seats on a crisp fall day.
From there, it was bullpen lockdown mode. Steele, who scattered seven hits over 5.2 innings, handed off to a trio of relievers—Hector Neris, Porter Hodge, and closer Ryan Pressly—who combined for 3.1 scoreless frames. Pressly sealed the deal with a perfect ninth, fanning Fernando Tatis Jr. on a slider that painted the black. Tatis, who entered slashing .312/.398/.582 in September, went 0-for-4, a rare off-night for San Diego’s superstar.
For the Padres, it’s a quick turnaround after a regular season that saw them snag the NL’s No. 2 wild card with 92 wins. Pivetta labored through 4.2 innings, allowing three runs on five hits, while the offense mustered just six hits total—stranded runners galore against Chicago’s stingy staff, which surrendered the eighth-fewest runs in baseball.
This best-of-three series now shifts to Game 2 on Wednesday afternoon, with Dylan Cease (12-8, 3.45 ERA) taking the hill for San Diego against Chicago’s Kyle Hendricks. The Cubs, absent from October since 2020, smell blood in the water. As Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder belted “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” during the seventh-inning stretch, the message was clear: Wrigley’s ready for more. With Suzuki and Kelly leading the charge, Chicago’s North Siders might just extend their stay.
