Pete Crow-Armstrong stood in the outfield feeling helpless. The center fielder for the Chicago Cubs realized he had lost sight of a fly ball in the twilight above Wrigley Field on Thursday night. When Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers hit Shota Imanaga’s splitter toward center field in the sixth inning, Crow-Armstrong quickly raised his hands. The ball landed behind him and rolled to the warning track. Right fielder Michael Conforto retrieved it, but Langeliers completed an inside-the-park homer, boosting the A’s lead to four runs.
A negative reaction came from the 37,419 fans in attendance, anticipating another loss and a sweep for the Cubs. However, the Cubs managed a comeback victory, scoring four runs in the ninth to defeat the A’s 7-6, breaking an eight-game home losing streak. They achieved more hits in the ninth inning than in the previous eight combined. According to team historian Ed Hartig, the last time the Cubs scored four runs in the ninth for a walk-off win was on August 12, 2018, against the Washington Nationals.
Crow-Armstrong redeemed his earlier error by securing his first career walk-off hit. He knocked Luis Medina’s fastball into right field, concluding the game. He reflected on the defensive mistake: “There’s not much you can do about that except hope you see it next time.” His opportunity wouldn’t have come if not for the efforts of his teammates. “We’ve stayed in the fight all year.”
Dansby Swanson played a crucial role with two outs, despite his ongoing slump since his rookie season in 2017. He hit a fastball up the middle to tie the game. Swanson expressed his excitement: “Raw emotion and competitive spirit is vital in this game.” His actions exemplified the team’s resolve in the ninth inning.
Earlier in the game, the mood at Wrigley Field had declined significantly. After losing the fly ball, Crow-Armstrong became the target of a fan’s criticism, which seemed directed at the team’s overall struggle. Nonetheless, Crow-Armstrong turned his emotions into energy for his subsequent at-bat, hitting his second home run in two days.
Manager Craig Counsell shared brief advice with Crow-Armstrong between innings: “You can’t think about what just happened; go have a great at-bat.” Crow-Armstrong showed resilience, reflecting on his growth: “People having my back, me not avoiding the next at-bat, I’m growing up a little bit. I’m proud of that.”
Special players impact games during critical moments. Crow-Armstrong aimed to play naturally instead of focusing on redemption. His ability to deliver in dramatic situations highlights his potential, as noted by Counsell. “It was unfortunate, but it was a big moment for the players. That’s the building block,” Counsell remarked.