The Chicago Cubs traveled to the Los Angeles Dodgers over the weekend and left no doubt about their competitive spirit, punctuated by a series-clinching 4-2 victory over the Dodgers on Sunday. For center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, the series finale was a particularly memorable affair, and the 23-year-old outfielder offered an honest and appreciative reflection on playing at the iconic Dodger Stadium.
“I love playing here. It’s a fun crowd … and I think the Cubbies like playing here too,” Crow-Armstrong remarked in the postgame press conference. His confidence was far from unfounded. This series win marked the third consecutive season in which the Cubs emerged victorious in a series at Chavez Ravine.
Adding to the significance of this year’s triumph was the Cubs’ historic offensive explosion on Saturday, a record-breaking 16-0 shutout that represented the worst such loss on home turf in the Dodgers’ franchise history.
While the Cubs’ offense erupted for an astounding 21 hits in that Saturday rout, Sunday’s finale belonged to the burgeoning talent of Crow-Armstrong. After a slow start to his season at the plate, he broke out in a significant way, hitting two solo home runs and a triple, single-handedly driving the Cubs to their fourth consecutive series victory and improving their overall record to an impressive 11-7.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell acknowledged the significance of Crow-Armstrong’s performance, stating, “To have a game where you’re kind of the guy that drives the bus offensively, so to speak, that’s a really good thing and great for your confidence.”
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This breakout game for Crow-Armstrong comes at a potentially pivotal juncture in his career. MLB.com has reported that the Cubs have initiated preliminary discussions with his representatives regarding a possible long-term contract extension.
Crow-Armstrong, who remains under team control through the 2030 season, expressed his openness to the idea, saying, “I would obviously love to do it here. It’s all just a big old compliment. They’ve been nothing but really complimentary of who I am and what I mean to the organization.” While acknowledging the ongoing talks, Crow-Armstrong emphasized that contract discussions would not distract him from his primary focus. “There’s been a general consensus that we’re not going to let it be a distraction throughout this year because I’m here to play baseball,” he asserted. “Simple as that.”
Despite entering the series finale in a bit of a slump, hitting just .194 over his previous eight games, Crow-Armstrong remained focused, crediting the encouragement of veteran teammates like Dansby Swanson and Ian Happ for helping him stay locked in.
“They’ve all been in my ear the last couple weeks,” he explained. “It definitely just gives you that little extra bit of conviction to go out there and just try and produce when you feel everybody backing you up.”
In a fitting culmination to his stellar performance, after hitting the go-ahead home run in the seventh inning, Crow-Armstrong turned towards the stands and blew a kiss to his parents, who were seated behind home plate, marking a special homecoming at Dodger Stadium.
Whether it was the energy of playing in Los Angeles or simply a young player finding his stride, Crow-Armstrong looked every bit the long-term cornerstone the Cubs envision. And with the team’s overall performance – leading MLB in runs scored and demonstrating resilience in high-leverage situations – the belief within the Cubs’ clubhouse continues to grow with each hard-earned victory.