The Chicago Cubs turned what looked like a tough loss into a birthday celebration for Nico Hoerner last night, May 14, 2025, at Wrigley Field, pulling off a dramatic 5-4 walk-off win over the Miami Marlins. Hoerner, turning 28, scored the game-winning run on a clutch hit by Justin Turner in the ninth inning, and the cameras caught him celebrating before he even rounded third base—a moment that captured the magic of Wrigley’s energy.
The Cubs were trailing 4-3 heading into the bottom of the ninth, but the momentum shifted as the Wrigley faithful got loud. With two outs and Hoerner on base, Turner—struggling in his first year with Chicago at a .220 average with just 2 homers through 43 games—delivered a double down the left-field line, driving in Hoerner for the win. It was a much-needed moment for Turner, who’s faced criticism for his slow start, and a perfect cap to Hoerner’s special day. “It’s a really, really special thing,” Hoerner told Marquee Sports Network’s Tony Andracki. “I don’t think it’s by chance that those things have happened at home. You feel that energy starting to build.”
Hoerner admitted he was already dreaming of a comeback while out in the field, even if he should’ve been focused on defense. “You start playing situations out in your head—this and that situation with a guy on the base, picturing the pitch you want,” he said with a laugh. “It’s fun when it lines up.” And line up it did—Hoerner finished 1-for-3 with 2 runs scored, including the game-winner, as the Cubs moved to 25-18, holding onto first place in the NL Central over the St. Louis Cardinals.
This win marks the Cubs’ second straight victory over the Marlins in their series, a good sign for a team that’s navigated a brutal early schedule. Chicago has been the highest-scoring team in the NL, averaging 5.2 runs per game through 43 contests, with production up and down the lineup—Pete Crow-Armstrong has 7 homers, Seiya Suzuki is hitting .310, and Michael Busch has 15 doubles. Now, with weaker opponents on the horizon, the Cubs are looking to keep the momentum going, and last night’s rally showed they’ve got the fight to do it. For Hoerner, celebrating his birthday with a walk-off win at Wrigley was the ultimate gift—and for Cubs fans, it’s a reminder of why this team is a legit contender in 2025.
