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The Chicago Cubs' Game 1 Wild Card victory was fueled by a pair of back-to-back home runs, which was a subtle callback to an iconic moment from the 2016 postseason. Seiya Suzuki and Carson Kelly played the heroes in Tuesday's win, marking the first time two Cubs delivered back-to-back homers in the postseason since catcher Miguel Montero and center fielder Dexter Fowler accomplished the feat in the 2016 National League Championship Series.
I was at that game too! Wrigley was literally shaking #Cubs pic.twitter.com/LlbQLvDPls
— Crawly's Cubs Kingdom (@crawlyscubs) September 30, 2025
Montero blew Game 1 of the NLCS open with a monstrous grand slam that put the Cubs up 7-3 against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Tied no more! Miguel Montero PINCH HIT GRAND SLAM! @Cubs take Game 1. #NLCS #postseason pic.twitter.com/Cu5K6l3Wxq
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 16, 2016
This still lives as one of the loudest moments at Wrigley Field in recent memory, and a solo shot from Fowler immediately followed it.
The Cubs, of course, went on to beat the Dodgers and win the World Series, with these two home runs setting the tone for the rest of the playoffs.
The Cubs need to lean on their power
I think I speak for most Cubs fans when I say this is the type of energy we need in the playoffs this year, and what Suzuki and Kelly already delivered for the Cubs against San Diego. The homers immediately shifted the lead and the momentum back in Chicago's favor by electrifying the crowd at Wrigley Field.
The crowd likely went on to play a major factor in the Cubs scoring a vital insurance run against former Cubs reliever Jeremiah Estrada in the eighth inning. Many of the fans were also probably well aware of Estrada's history with the Cubs and how he has bad-mouthed the organization on several occasions in recent years. The crowd was ready to support the Cubs, especially after Kelly and Suzuki gave them a lead.
Home runs are simply a game-changer in the playoffs, and the Cubs need to continue to use their powerful lineup to win ballgames. They have the ability, since 2025 is the first time in six seasons the team has multiple players with 30+ home runs--Michael Busch (34), Suzuki (32), and Pete Crow-Armstrong (31). Not to mention eight players with 10 or more (Dansby Swanson (24), Ian Happ (23), Kyle Tucker (22), Kelly (17), and Matt Shaw (13).