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Cubs Stun Padres with Back-to-Back Homers in Playoff Thriller
30 Sep
Summary
- Seiya Suzuki and Carson Kelly hit back-to-back home runs to lift Cubs
- Padres now on brink of playoff elimination after Game 1 loss
- Cubs bullpen shuts down Padres' offense after early deficit
On September 30, 2025, the Chicago Cubs pulled off a dramatic comeback against the San Diego Padres in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series. The game remained scoreless until the fifth inning when Seiya Suzuki and Carson Kelly hit back-to-back home runs, lifting the Cubs to a 3-1 victory.
The Padres had taken an early 1-0 lead in the second inning, but the Cubs' offense remained quiet against Padres starter Nick Pivetta until the fateful fifth. Suzuki and Kelly's clutch blasts sparked a raucous celebration at Wrigley Field, as the Cubs seized control of the game.
The Cubs' bullpen then took over, with Daniel Palencia, Drew Pomeranz, Andrew Kittredge, and Brad Keller combining for 4.2 scoreless innings to shut down the Padres' potent lineup. The win puts the Padres on the brink of elimination, as no team has come back from losing the opener of a best-of-three wild-card series since the current playoff format was introduced in 2022.
The Cubs' victory was a testament to their resilience and the power of their offense, which has been a key factor in their success this season. With the series now shifting to San Diego, the Padres will need to regroup quickly to avoid an early exit from the postseason.
