On a day meant to celebrate the legends of Chicago Cubs history, the present-day squad found themselves on the wrong end of a thrilling comeback, as the Washington Nationals stunned the Wrigley Field faithful with a 6-3 victory on September 7, 2025. The afternoon was filled with nostalgia, emotion, and ultimately, heartbreak for the North Siders, who watched as a late-game collapse overshadowed a Hall of Fame celebration and a pair of home runs from catcher Carson Kelly.
The festivities began long before the first pitch, with Cubs Hall of Famers Lee Smith, Billy Williams, Shawon Dunston, Andre Dawson, Sammy Sosa, Aramis Ramirez, Fergie Jenkins, Derrek Lee, Rick Sutcliffe, and Kerry Wood gathering for a commemorative photo on the field. The crowd roared as Sammy Sosa and Derrek Lee, two of the most beloved Cubs of the modern era, were welcomed back to Wrigley to throw out the ceremonial first pitch and don their iconic blue blazers in a heartfelt on-field ceremony. Sosa, hand over his heart, and Lee, waving to the crowd, basked in the adulation of fans who remembered their exploits fondly.
But as the pageantry gave way to the game itself, the Cubs looked poised to deliver a win worthy of the occasion. Nationals rookie Andrew Alvarez, making just his second career start, was solid but not spectacular, lasting 4.2 innings and throwing 87 pitches. He allowed three walks and a solo home run to Carson Kelly in the second inning, but managed to limit the damage and keep the game close through the early frames.
"Alvarez did a good job limiting the damage, but he was inefficient," noted a Nationals beat writer, highlighting the rookie’s struggles with command but also his resilience. The Cubs offense, meanwhile, found itself stymied by a combination of Nationals arms, but Kelly’s second-inning blast gave Chicago an early lead and set the tone for a tense, low-scoring affair.
The Nationals finally broke through in the fifth, with Daylen Lile and Luis Garcia Jr.—two of the hottest hitters in the Washington lineup—igniting a rally. Lile singled, Garcia doubled on a ball that got lost in the Wrigley ivy, and Brady House drove in Lile with a sacrifice fly. Yet the Nationals couldn’t capitalize further, as Cubs pitching clamped down to end the threat.
When Alvarez departed in the bottom of the fifth after a play at the plate, manager Miguel Cairo called on Clayton Beeter, who promptly allowed a single that put the Cubs back in front. Beeter, however, would settle in and dominate Cubs hitters in the sixth, continuing his impressive run since joining Washington with a 2.40 ERA in 16 outings.
The Cubs appeared to seize control in the eighth, when Carson Kelly launched his second home run of the game, sending the Wrigley crowd into a frenzy and pushing the lead to 3-1. With the Hall of Famers watching from the stands and the home faithful in full voice, it seemed only fitting that Chicago would cap the day with a victory.
But baseball, as ever, had other plans. Entering the ninth with a two-run cushion, Cubs closer Daniel Palencia took the mound looking to secure the save. Instead, the Nationals mounted a ferocious rally that would leave the crowd stunned. Robert Hassell led off with a home run to left center, slicing the deficit to one and breathing life into the Washington dugout. CJ Abrams followed with an infield single, James Wood drew a walk, and suddenly, the tying and go-ahead runs were aboard with nobody out.
Manager Miguel Cairo then made a gutsy call, sending Josh Bell to pinch-hit for Riley Adams. Despite Bell’s recent struggles, Cairo’s faith was rewarded immediately. On the very first pitch, Bell launched a towering fly ball that seemed to hang in the Chicago sky forever before dropping into the bleachers for a three-run homer. The Nationals bench erupted as Bell rounded the bases, putting Washington ahead 5-3 and silencing the Wrigley crowd.
"Bell did just that on the first pitch of the at bat. He drove a fly ball that seemed to hang up in the air for an eternity. Eventually, it dropped into the seats for a 3-run home run. It gave the Nats a two run lead and the Wrigley crowd was stunned," recounted one game report, capturing the drama of the moment.
The Nationals weren’t finished. Daylen Lile, already a triples master, lashed a ball down the right field line for his eighth three-bagger of the year, and Brady House brought him home with another sacrifice fly to stretch the lead to 6-3. Palencia, who had appeared injured during the inning, was left to watch as the game slipped away, while his teammates gathered around him in a show of support as the inning mercifully ended.
In the bottom of the ninth, the Cubs tried to rally. Matt Shaw singled, giving the home fans a glimmer of hope, but Nationals reliever Jose A. Ferrer shut the door, securing the win and snapping an 81-game losing streak for Washington when trailing by two or more runs after the eighth inning. The Nationals’ resilience and timely hitting had turned what looked like a sure Cubs win into one of the most thrilling comebacks of the season.
For the Cubs, the loss was a bitter pill to swallow, especially on a day dedicated to honoring the franchise’s greats. Manager Craig Counsell put his hand on Palencia’s shoulder after the blown save, a gesture of empathy in a game that can be as cruel as it is beautiful. The present-day Cubs, despite the sting of defeat, were reminded of the enduring legacy and spirit of those who came before them—legends who know all too well the highs and lows that come with wearing the blue pinstripes.
As the Cubs prepare to head to Atlanta for a three-game set against the Braves, they’ll look to regroup and draw inspiration from the Hall of Famers who watched from the stands. The Nationals, meanwhile, head home with a win that won’t soon be forgotten—a testament to perseverance and the unpredictable magic of baseball at its best.
