What happened in the fifth inning of the Cubs-Padres playoff game?

Seiya Suzuki and Carson Kelly hit back-to-back home runs for the Cubs, lifting them to a 3-1 victory over the Padres in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series.

How did the Cubs' bullpen perform in the game?

The Cubs' bullpen shut down the Padres' offense, combining for 4.2 scoreless innings after starter Matthew Boyd's outing.

What is the significance of the Cubs' win for the Padres' playoff hopes?

The Padres are now 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.

Home / Sports / Cubs Stun Padres with Back-to-Back Homers in Playoff Thriller

Cubs Stun Padres with Back-to-Back Homers in Playoff Thriller

30 Sep, 2025

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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

Cubs Stun Padres with Back-to-Back Homers in Playoff Thriller

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.