"Let him pitch again," Seiya Suzuki strongly supports Shota Imanaga as the Cubs hope to even the series at home.

Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki launched a three-run home run in the first inning of the NLDS Game 2 to give his team an early advantage, but the Cubs eventually fell 3-7 to the Milwaukee Brewers, slipping to a 0-2 deficit in the series. Postgame, Suzuki commented on Shota Imanaga's outing, stating, "He has no reason to apologize," and stressed that the entire team will head back to Chicago to continue battling and seek a comeback in the series.

Facing the Brewers' pitching staff, the Cubs got off to a strong start when Suzuki crushed a three-run homer to right field off starter Aaron Ashby in the first inning—his second homer of the postseason. However, the Brewers responded with consecutive rallies to take the lead and ultimately won 7-3. Suzuki finished the game with one hit in three at-bats, driving in three runs and drawing one walk.

After the game, Suzuki said, "More than hitting the homer, I’m happier that the team scored first." Regarding Imanaga's postgame apology to teammates, Suzuki replied, "He absolutely doesn’t need to apologize; everyone gave their all. Winning and losing are part of the game. We need to help him get more runs so he can pitch again. I believe he’ll pitch well next time."

On the Brewers’ strong pitching lineup, Suzuki stated, "Every team in the playoffs has top-tier pitchers; scoring isn’t easy. I’ll try to battle longer, put pressure on them, and not let my at-bats end too quickly." Reflecting on the two losses, he said, "Our goal hasn’t changed; everyone wants to win. Although the opponent is one win away, the series isn’t over, and we’ll fight until the end."

Talking about returning to home games, Suzuki smiled and said, "Playing on the road is really tough; there’s almost no Cubs fan support in the stands. Once we’re back in Chicago, we’ll have the home energy. I hope all the fans will fight with us and bring the momentum back."

Imanaga was pulled after just 2.2 innings, giving up four runs and taking the loss, putting the Cubs in a 0-2 hole. He self-critically said after the game, "The team started well, but I messed up the game. I’m very disappointed in myself."

This game marked the 11th consecutive outing in which Imanaga gave up a home run. He admitted being extremely dissatisfied with himself: "The team gave me runs early, but I couldn’t hold them. It’s really frustrating." Imanaga said his form wasn’t bad, but after the home runs, his "mind completely unraveled," and he even "became afraid to throw strikes," needing to regain confidence.

Reflecting on his feelings when leaving the mound, Imanaga said, "As I walked off, I kept reflecting that I should have adjusted earlier or thrown the ball lower. These things should have been done before pitching." He emphasized that if given another chance to pitch, "I will regain trust through my results."

Manager Craig Counsell briefly stated after the game, "We fight pitch by pitch, moment by moment. We will restart at home in Chicago." The Cubs have suffered two straight losses and will face a do-or-die situation when the series moves to their home field.