Cubs takeaways: What we learned as Pete Crow-Armstrong dazzles in win vs. Brewers
CHICAGO — The Cubs opened a crucial three-game series against their second-place foes in the National League Central, the Milwaukee Brewers.
Seiya Suzuki was the headliner early. But make no mistake: Tuesday night’s 5-3 Cubs win will be remembered for Pete Crow-Armstrong.
The center fielder was instrumental as the Cubs (45-28) extended their division lead over the Brewers (39-35) to 6.5 games.
Let’s get to three takeaways from the game at Wrigley Field:
PCA — MVP
The Cubs led 4-3 in the eighth inning when Crow-Armstrong dashed to the left-center field gap and seemingly plucked a Brice Turang liner with his glove inches before it touched the blades of grass in the outfield.
That ball seemed destined for extra bases with Crow-Armstrong diving for it. Instead, he snagged it, recording the second out on a play seemingly only he can make. Even his pitcher, left-hander Caleb Thielbar, was visibly impressed.
That elicited “PCA” chants from the 38,687 fans at Wrigley Field. It was a moment you can’t top — well, unless you’re Crow-Armstrong in 2025.
As seemingly destined from the baseball gods, Crow-Armstrong led off the bottom half of the inning. On the first pitch he saw from Brewers left-hander Rob Zastryzny, he delivered a no-doubt, 452-foot blast off the right-field scoreboard for his 19th home run of the season.
The Wrigley Field faithful broke out in another round of “PCA” chants after he touched home plate. When Brewers manager Pat Murphy trotted out to pull Zastryzny, chants of “MVP” rang through Wrigley.
This is a true breakout campaign from Crow-Armstrong. He doesn’t lead NL outfielders in All-Star voting for nothing. He’s having one of those special seasons — and Tuesday will be one of those nights that you remember fondly after the fact.
Brown’s outing
Ben Brown‘s first innings have been a talking point this season. That happens when you have a 10.50 ERA in the opening frame.
But the Cubs right-hander looked solid in the first inning Tuesday, as he worked around a two-out double to post a zero in the frame. Smooth sailing, right?
Well, Brown opened the second with a walk to Rhys Hoskins, then allowed a two-run homer to Isaac Colling and a single to Turang. Things looked like they were teetering on the edge of a blowout inning in the second.
Except Brown settled down and recorded three consecutive outs. It became a running theme for Brown, who allowed a baserunner in all five innings he pitched, but he didn’t yield any other runs beyond those two in the second. Not too shabby.
The Cubs don’t need Brown to be the dominant righty who tossed six scoreless against the Los Angeles Dodgers in April or threw seven no-hit innings against these Brewers last season. Sure, they’ll take that kind of performance, but outings like Tuesday’s are just as valuable.
The Cubs need Brown to keep them in games. They can’t be down a few runs in the first inning, have him leak more in an outing and then play catch-up. He kept them in the game Tuesday — and that allowed them to rally and win an important division contest.
Seiya’s smash
Seiya Suzuki delivered the Cubs’ big blow, as his three-run homer in the fifth inning gave them the lead for good.
It was Suzuki’s fifth three-run homer this season. He entered the year with just two three-run blasts in his prior three seasons.
That’s a testament as much to his offensive explosion this season as it is the overall depth of the Cubs’ lineup, compared to years past.
There’s enough quality up and down the Cubs’ starting nine that they can work at-bats, allowing Suzuki to come up with runners on base. Of course, hitting around Kyle Tucker and an emerging Crow-Armstrong helps, too.
The three-headed monster atop the Cubs’ lineup — Tucker, Suzuki and Crow-Armstrong — ain’t too shabby.
