Cubs Rally from Behind for Dramatic Victory

Pete Crow-Armstrong stood in the outfield feeling helpless. The Chicago Cubs center fielder lost sight of a fly ball under the twilight at Wrigley Field on Thursday night. Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers launched Shota Imanaga’s splitter toward center field in the sixth inning. The ball landed behind Crow-Armstrong and rolled to the warning track. Right fielder Michael Conforto chased it down and threw it back, but Langeliers raced to make a two-run, inside-the-park homer, extending the A’s lead to four runs.

Boos erupted from 37,419 fans, anticipating another defeat and a sweep for the Cubs. Yet, the Cubs pulled off an unlikely victory, scoring four runs in the ninth inning to win 7-6 and snap an eight-game home losing streak. In the ninth, the Cubs had seven hits compared to four in the previous innings. Team historian Ed Hartig noted the Cubs last scored four runs in the ninth for a walk-off win on August 12, 2018, against the Nationals.

Crow-Armstrong redeemed his earlier error by hitting his first walk-off hit. He hit a fastball from right-hander Luis Medina into right field to secure the game. “There’s not much you can do except hope you see it next time,” Crow-Armstrong remarked about his defensive mistake. “I wouldn’t have had a chance in the ninth if my teammates didn’t make their plays. We’ve fought all year, and this is what we’re capable of.”

Dansby Swanson was crucial in this comeback. In a slump since 2017, Swanson faced Medina with two outs and turned a two-strike fastball into a game-tying hit. Swanson expressed his excitement at first base. “Emotion and competitive spirit are crucial because this is about competing and winning. Being able to deliver was thrilling,” said Swanson, who had a .162 average over his last 33 games. “The determination from the team in the ninth is who we are. Seeing everyone come through and relieve some pressure was important.”

Before the ninth, the game seemed like a low point in an already tumultuous season. Crow-Armstrong faced frustration from fans after missing the fly ball. One fan criticized him as he returned to the dugout, though Crow-Armstrong believed the comment was misdirected. The criticism fueled Crow-Armstrong for his next at-bat.

Manager Craig Counsell encouraged Crow-Armstrong between innings: “Forget what happened. Go have a strong at-bat.” In the bottom of the sixth, Crow-Armstrong hit a home run, his third in five games. “Before, I might have dwelt on it, affecting the rest of my day,” said Crow-Armstrong. “Having support, facing the next challenge, I’m maturing, and I’m proud, but I need to continue it for the year.”

Special players rise in crucial moments. On Thursday, Crow-Armstrong focused on making the necessary plays for victory. He has an ability to captivate with his performances. “That’s for great writers to describe,” Counsell said with humor. “The play was unfortunate and hard to see, and you feel bad. It impacted the game heavily,” Counsell continued. “These are significant moments for our players. These are foundational for us.”