The Cubs were fired up as Justin Turner crossed home plate at the tail end of his pinch-hit home-run trot on Sunday, ready to celebrate a dramatic blast that lifted them to an electrifying 5-3 victory over the Orioles.
But no Cub was more animated than Daniel Palencia.
Palencia, who has been lights-out as the team’s closer, rode an emotional roller coaster—from frustration to euphoria—after surrendering a game-tying run in the top of the ninth. When Turner’s ball cleared the fence, Palencia sprinted out, let out a jubilant scream in Turner’s face, and enveloped him in a bear hug, lifting him off the ground in a spirited show of gratitude.
“He didn’t need to say a word,” Turner said with a grin afterward. “He’s been nails for us all season. I’ll gladly hand him the ball with a lead in the ninth inning every time. I was just happy to be able to pick him up today. He’s going to be huge for us down the stretch.”
Indeed, Sunday at Wrigley Field was a day full of the unexpected.
Palencia’s streak of 12 consecutive scoreless outings, dating back to late June, came to an end. Even with five runs on the board, the Cubs’ offense remained inconsistent, scratching out just nine runs across the weekend series against the last-place Orioles. In an early-game oddity, even struggling right fielder Kyle Tucker dropped down a sacrifice bunt in the first inning.
But none of it was as rare as Turner’s moment.
For a player in his 17th major league season, the 40-year-old had never hit a regular-season walk-off home run—until Sunday. And with modest season stats—batting .217 with three homers—Turner’s value to the Cubs has been far greater behind the scenes than in the box score.
“For a guy who has handled his role this year with so much grace, it was just awesome to see him get that moment,” shortstop Dansby Swanson said. “He’s the glue behind so much of what we do. Whether it’s organizing team dinners, making sure everyone’s included on bus rides, or helping guys lock in offensively, JT’s been at the center of it all.
“People don’t see it, but his fingerprints are all over our offense—helping guys through at-bats, collaborating with coaches on game plans, staying in the cage with teammates. We’re lucky to have him.”
That walk-off may not have even happened if not for a key conversation in the offseason. Turner admitted it took some persuading for him to accept a role with limited playing time.
“I wanted to be somewhere I could win,” Turner said. “Honestly, it took some convincing. Craig [Counsell] was upfront, saying, ‘We don’t have a lot of at-bats for you. You’re going to be coming off the bench.’
“I told him, ‘That’s fine. I’ll do whatever you guys need. I just want to win a championship.’ I really wanted to be here. I’m thankful it worked out, and I’m glad I got that opportunity today.”
As for bigger celebrations? Turner has been part of those before. And while the Cubs are still chasing the Brewers in the NL Central, Turner knows the focus must remain narrow to get back to October glory.
“It’s easy to get caught up scoreboard-watching,” Turner said. “But the key for us is to stay locked in on what we can control—one game at a time. Watching other teams isn’t going to help us. If we handle our business, we’ll be in a good spot when it matters.”
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