The Cubs thought they had a perfect formula for Game 1 victories in the postseason, but the Dodgers went and threw a wrench in that.
Jon Lester and Javy Baez once again looked to get the Cubs out on the right foot, but a bullpen meltdown let the Dodgers tie the game in the eighth inning.
That just set the stage for Miguel Montero's heroics.
The veteran catcher drilled an 0-2 Joe Blanton offering into the right-field bleachers for a game-winning grand slam as the Cubs went on to claim Game 1 8-4.
The Dodgers intentionally walked two batters in the inning, and Montero - pinching hitting for Aroldis Chapman - made them pay.
After a lit crowd of 42,376 demanded a Montero curtain call, Dexter Fowler followed with another shot into the right-field bleachers on the next pitch.
[SHOP: Gear up, Cubs fans!]
MLB
The Cubs jumped out to an early lead with Lester shutting down the Dodgers, allowing only one run - a pinch-hit, wind-aided homer - in six innings.
Meanwhile, Baez drove home a run with a bloop hit in the second inning, hustled into second for a double on the play, advanced to third on a wild pitch and then scored on a steal of home when Dodgers catcher Carlos Ruiz tried a pickoff attempt.
But the Cubs bullpen loaded the bases with nobody out in the top of the eighth as Mike Montgomery and Pedro Strop allowed two hits and a walk.
Chapman came on and immediately struck out Corey Seager and Yasiel Puig, but Adrian Gonzalez drove a 102 mph fastball into center field to tie the game.
Hector Rondon came on to close out the ninth inning.