During a lively seventh-inning stretch at Wrigley Field, Hippo Campus, a local rock band, played their version of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” This was followed by “Bear Down, Chicago Bears,” a classic tune familiar at sporting events around Chicago. Soon after, fans saw a remarkable lineup on the video board: Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, Bulls forwards Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis, and Cole Bennett, founder of Lyrical Lemonade and Illinois native. Seated in the front row behind the home dugout, they sported Cubs jerseys and joined the crowd in a chant for Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong.
Crow-Armstrong, recently named the NL Player of the Month, cherished the support from the trio. He noted their presence and the energy it brought to the crowd. It’s evident that Chicago has much to anticipate with these athletes.
The spotlight wasn’t solely on Crow-Armstrong’s supporters. The 24-year-old showcased his impressive capabilities with a significant two-run home run in the third inning, contributing to the Cubs’ 2-1 triumph over the Milwaukee Brewers. This victory led the Cubs to a split of the series.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell appreciated the connection Crow-Armstrong has with other local sports talents, calling their appearance at the game a special moment. The Cubs, trailing the Brewers by eight games, are now only half a game behind the Philadelphia Phillies for the top National League wild-card spot.
Kevin Gausman was another standout performer. He delivered a much-needed robust pitching display, achieving seven innings of one-run ball and striking out nine. Crow-Armstrong applauded Gausman’s dedication and chemistry with catcher Carson Kelly, emphasizing the importance of Gausman’s dominant performance.
Gausman leaned heavily on his fastball-splitter combination, delivering 103 pitches, primarily revolving around these two pitches. The splitter was effective, creating 12 whiffs, while the fastball prevented Brewers hitters from capitalizing on the slower offerings.
After challenging outings earlier in the week, Gausman’s performance was a relief for the Cubs’ pitching roster. Both Ryan Zeferjahn and Ryan Rolison delivered perfect innings, bolstering the bullpen and providing much-needed reassurance for the team.
Unfortunately, right-hander Ben Brown will miss the rest of the season due to a stress reaction in his neck, an injury that sidelined him since June. Despite this setback, Counsell remains optimistic about Brown’s return next season. Edward Cabrera and Shelby Miller are anticipated to pitch with Triple-A Iowa, with Miller possibly pitching on consecutive days.
Despite the challenges, Crow-Armstrong continues to impress and maintain the enthusiasm of his peers. Emphasizing a supportive environment within the city’s sports teams, Crow-Armstrong highlighted the camaraderie and backing they provide each other.