Pete Crow-Armstrong has delivered yet another stunning performance.
Following a spectacular three-homer game during a 17-5 blowout of the Cincinnati Reds, the Chicago Cubs powerhouse recorded another multi-homer game on Sunday, though the outcome was less favorable this time around.
Although his second home run of the afternoon brought Chicago within two runs of the opposition, the Reds ultimately secured a 7-5 win. Nonetheless, this exceptional batting display marked his fifth home run over a forty-eight-hour stretch, strengthening his bid in an increasingly intense National League MVP battle against Shohei Ohtani.
During Sunday’s matchup, Crow-Armstrong wasted no time continuing his offensive onslaught from the day before. Leading off the bottom of the first, he connected with a 99-mph, full-count heater from Chase Burns, sending it deep into the right-field seats at Wrigley Field to give the Cubs a quick 1-0 advantage. This round-tripper was PCA’s fourth home run in just seven plate appearances.
Cincinnati’s offense eventually came alive, tagging Chicago starting pitcher Shota Imanaga for six runs across the fourth and fifth frames, allowing the Reds to hold a 7-4 advantage heading into the final frame.
Down to their final outs, Crow-Armstrong attempted to ignite a late-game comeback. With two down in the ninth, he drove another ball over the right-field wall for his second home run of the contest.
The rally fell short, however, as Chicago failed to cross the plate again, allowing the Reds to claim two out of three games in the series.
This fifth home run in two games brings his season total to 38, putting him just two shy of Major League Baseball leader Kyle Schwarber (40) and stretching his lead over Ohtani (30) to eight. Furthermore, Crow-Armstrong currently paces the National League in WAR, slugging percentage, OPS, and total bases.
Following his Sunday performance, Crow-Armstrong boasts an impressive .283/.377/.577 slash line alongside a .954 OPS, 91 RBIs, 32 stolen bases, and his 38 home runs. These stellar numbers are anchoring a 77-60 Cubs squad that concluded the weekend deadlocked with the Phillies for the premier National League wild-card position.
