The Chicago Cubs were held scoreless through the first four innings of Game 1 of the wild card series against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday afternoon.
After the Padres scratched across a run in the second inning, the Cubs trailed 1-0 entering the fifth inning. That's when outfielder Seiya Suzuki launched his fifth home run in five games to get the Cubs on the board and tie the game at 1-1.
But before fans at could even find their seat at Wrigley Field, catcher Carson Kelly sent a home run of his own into the bleachers to give the Cubs' a 2-1 lead in the fifth inning.
Carson Kelly Achieves Childhood Dream
Kelly is in his 10th year in the MLB and his first with the Cubs. The veteran catcher grew up as a huge Cubs fan, and signed this offseason to join his childhood team.
Kelly has put together one of the best years of his career in his first year in Chicago, hitting .249 with a .761 OPS, 17 home runs and 50 RBI in the regular season.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Cubs catcher continued his impressive season with a go-ahead home run in the fifth inning of Game 1 of the wild card series against the Padres.
Kelly grew up going to Cubs games and chasing batting practice home run balls in the Wrigley Field bleachers.
"To see that energy, you feel that as a player. It was a good day to wear a Cubs uniform."
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) September 30, 2025
Carson Kelly following the Cubs' 3-1 win. pic.twitter.com/D9WDyqzOnJ
"It's kind of cool how it's come full circle," Kelly said on Tuesday morning, prior to Game 1.
The Cubs catcher said that even before he went out and hit a home run of his own into those same Wrigley Field bleachers.
Chicago would end up adding an insurance run in the eighth inning, but Kelly's home run was the deciding factor in the Cubs' Game 1 win against the Padres.
Now, Kelly and Cubs are one game away from advancing to the NLDS to face their division rivals, the Milwaukee Brewers.