Pete Crow-Armstrong has faced quite a challenge with opposing fans. Players and supporters alike saw this over two weeks ago on the South Side and during a recent series at Busch Stadium. Chicago Cubs’ Crow-Armstrong became the target of boos just by hearing his name announced. Fans frequently taunted him from the bleachers.
On a recent Saturday, he responded with an impressive performance. He went 4-for-5, hit a massive home run, drove in two runs, and ended the game with a sliding catch. His efforts led the Cubs to a 6-1 win against the St. Louis Cardinals, evening the series. This victory was crucial for the Cubs as it kept hopes alive to win their first series since early May.
Crow-Armstrong’s contribution, along with Ben Brown’s strong pitching over seven innings, turned the Cubs’ clubhouse into a place of celebration. After the game, Crow-Armstrong shared, “I need more of that in my day-to-day. Remembering that this is fun, even when you go through tough stretches and not taking myself too seriously.”
The seventh inning saw the Cubs take a 3-1 lead, thanks to runs driven in by Nico Hoerner and Michael Busch. As Crow-Armstrong approached the plate in the eighth, Cardinals fans continued their chants. Facing a 96 mph fastball from Gordon Graceffo, Crow-Armstrong hit a 444-foot home run to right field, silencing the crowd’s mockery.
He pointed toward the hecklers in the stands as he rounded the bases. Though asked if he reacted to the fans, he downplayed this notion, explaining, “I was hearing them all yesterday, and all today.” This home run was the hardest-hit ball of his career, measuring 114.6 mph.
Crow-Armstrong acknowledged that the rivalry with the Cardinals fueled his performance. “They got like hundreds of shirtless guys out in right field… They’re buying into something, so I can appreciate it,” he remarked.
“It’s good energy in the ballpark,” said Ian Happ. “It’s a cool thing that there are that many young people that want to come out and watch baseball and support it.”
Following his eighth-inning heroics, Crow-Armstrong delivered again in the ninth, driving in more runs and ultimately making a game-ending catch. “Just to the Cubs fans out there,” he dedicated his gesture of appreciation after the catch.
Regarding Crow-Armstrong’s performance, manager Craig Counsell advised focus and consistency. “Swung the bat really, really well. Do it tomorrow,” he suggested. Pitching standout Ben Brown also received praise for his seven innings of one-run three-hit performance, further reducing his ERA to 1.73 over five starts.
Crow-Armstrong continues to be a focus of both fan critique and admiration. “I try not to read into my work too much,” he explained about his approach. “But yesterday I absolutely did, and today I just wanted to be a kid and go out and play baseball with my friends.” With Saturday’s performance, he managed to do just that.