Cubs’ Frustration With Controversial Balk Call

Phoenix — Pete Crow-Armstrong expressed anger hours after a disputed decision on the field. The Chicago Cubs struggled against Arizona Diamondbacks’ lefty Eduardo Rodríguez, with Crow-Armstrong doubling to start the sixth inning.

In a tense, scoreless game, he advanced to third base, setting up a chance for the Cubs. As Rodríguez delivered a 2-1 pitch to Michael Busch, Crow-Armstrong’s aggressive steps appeared to cause the pitcher to balk by moving his back foot off the rubber. This seemed to give the Cubs a run, but no balk was called.

Crow-Armstrong and third-base coach Quintin Berry signaled for a balk but did not receive the call. The umpires, led by Alfonso Márquez, conferred on the field but maintained their initial ruling. Crow-Armstrong, upset, approached third-base umpire Malachi Moore. Berry had to intervene, guiding Crow-Armstrong away to avoid an ejection.

I saw four umpires miss a pretty obvious play, Crow-Armstrong stated. Their one job is to get calls right, and if they get it wrong, they’re supposed to talk about it, figure it out, and get it right. And they didn’t.

Márquez admitted postgame that they missed the balk call; the play was not eligible for review. Cubs manager Craig Counsell shared his disappointment, noting the missed call was clear to television viewers.

The Cubs managed to get a walk from Busch, but Nico Hoerner struck out, ending the inning. Arizona’s Jordan Lawlar soon hit a solo home run off Matthew Boyd. The Diamondbacks later scored on a sacrifice fly, resulting in a 2-0 loss for the Cubs.

The defeat capped a series of missed opportunities despite strong performances from Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes, and Boyd, allowing only one run in 20 innings. The Cubs hope to recover with a day off, then continue their season against the Reds and Brewers.

Crow-Armstrong reflected on his performance, admitting to frustration with his 1-for-12 streak and three strikeouts. If I’m going to sit here and complain about all this stuff, I should have done better today, he acknowledged.