Chicago (MLB.com).— Wrigley Field vibrated with playoff intensity again after a seven-year wait. This Tuesday, Seiya Suzuki hit a decisive home run and led the Chicago Cubs to a 3-1 victory over the San Diego Padres in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series.
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The crowd erupted when Suzuki opened the fifth inning with a hit of 424 feet and an exit velocity of 112.2 mph, his fourth consecutive postseason game with a home run, an unprecedented record in MLB. Seconds later, Carson Kelly ignited the stadium even more with a back-to-back home run, putting the Cubs ahead 2-1. “You felt the passion of the fans. I ran the bases nervously, but with an incredible feeling,” said Suzuki, who closed the regular season with five home runs in his last four games. In the mound, the left-handed opener Matthew Boyd pitched 4.1 innings, and then the bullpen responded perfectly. The Venezuelan Daniel Palencia, along with Drew Pomeranz, Andrew Kittredge and Brad Keller, shut down San Diego’s bats and preserved the lead. The defense was also key. Dansby Swanson starred in two spectacular plays that prevented runs in the first half of the game, reinforcing the minimal advantage in a duel marked by the wind and shadows that hindered the offense. The triumph leaves Chicago in a favorable historical position: 18 of the last 20 teams that won Game 1 of a Wild Card series advanced to the next round, including 16 sweeps. “Suzuki and Kelly’s home runs completely changed the energy of the stadium,” highlighted manager Craig Counsell. “This is the kind of impact that defines the playoff atmosphere.” The Cubs will look to close out the series on Wednesday in the same venue, motivated by a fanbase that relived an unforgettable October night.
