On a blustery Thursday evening at Wrigley Field, Pete Crow-Armstrong delivered a crucial two-run home run that helped the Chicago Cubs secure a 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates, marking a strong start to their 10-game homestand. Crow-Armstrong’s stunning home run performance, combined with Seiya Suzuki’s go-ahead homer, stood out despite challenging wind conditions blowing in during the game.
Strong Pitching Sets the Early Tone
The contest was tightly pitched through the first three innings, with Andrew Heaney retiring the first ten Cubs batters in order. Pirates’ starter Jameson Taillon limited damage early, giving up only a single to Andrew McCutchen in the first and a two-out walk to Oneil Cruz in the third. A defensive highlight came when Carson Kelly’s accurate throw and Nico Hoerner’s tag stopped Cruz from stealing second base to end the inning, preserving the clean sheet for the Cubs.
Breakthrough at the Plate
The Cubs finally broke through in the fourth inning. Kyle Tucker singled with one out, ending Heaney’s no-hit bid. Shortly after, Pete Crow-Armstrong launched a high, arcing homer deep into the bleachers, driving in two runs and marking his 18th home run of the season. This blast came on an impressive pitch nearly a foot above the strike zone, a rarity in the sport.
“Pete Crow-Armstrong now has this homer on a pitch 3.90 ft above the ground AND a homer earlier this year on a 0.86-ft pitchPCA is the 1st player with homers on pitches both 3.90+ ft & less than 0.90 ft off the ground in a season under Statcast (2015)h/t the wizard…” — Sarah Langs
Taillon responded by retiring the Pirates in order over the fourth and fifth innings, walking one batter in the sixth. The Cubs extended their lead to 3-0 later in the sixth when Seiya Suzuki added his 17th home run of the year, demonstrating enhanced power during the series.
Taillon’s Final Innings and Pirates’ Late Rally
Jameson Taillon showed signs of fatigue in the seventh inning. After allowing a one-out bloop single to Spencer Horwitz, two hard-hit singles allowed the Pirates to cut the lead to 3-1 and put runners on the corners. Taillon, who threw 92 pitches with 57 strikes and struck out seven batters, exited the game after six solid innings, tying a Cubs record for consecutive outings of six or more innings with four or fewer hits.
“Jameson Taillon pitched at least six innings and gave up no more than four hits for a sixth consecutive game. That ties for the most by a Cubs starter since 1901. Carlos Zambrano had both earlier streaks, in 2006 and 2010. Kerry Wood had five in a row in 2002. Jake Arrieta matched that in 2014.” — JohnW53, BCB
In Shōta Imanaga’s absence, Taillon’s ace-like performances have been critical to the Cubs’ pitching staff. Over his six starts, he boasts a 2.31 ERA and a 0.769 WHIP, solidifying his role as a dependable starter.
bullpen Struggles and Defensive Plays
Reliever Brad Keller entered the game in the seventh and quickly struck out Tommy Pham. However, he then hit Brett Sullivan with a pitch, loading the bases, and followed that by walking Jared Triolo to score a run, narrowing the Cubs’ lead to 3-2. This bases-loaded walk was only the third the Cubs have issued this season, highlighting the team’s usual control and discipline on the mound.
“The bases-loaded walk by Keller in the seventh inning was just the third issued by the Cubs this season. The first two both were against the Padres: April 6, at home, by Ben Brown, and April 16, at San Diego, by Luke Little. The Cubs had walked 116 batters since then in 48 games before the one tonight.” — JohnW53, BCB
Keller recovered quickly, striking out Oneil Cruz on a slider to escape the inning, preventing further damage and preserving the slim lead.
Late-Inning Relief and Closing the Game
Daniel Palencia took the mound in the eighth inning, pitching a clean frame by retiring the Pirates in order. The Cubs matched that feat in their half of the eighth, setting the stage for closer Ryan Pressly’s return. Pressly, entering his first save opportunity since April, sailed through the ninth inning by inducing three consecutive infield groundouts, demonstrating calm under pressure to secure the win.
Implications for the Cubs and Upcoming Matchups
This victory extended the Cubs’ division lead over the St. Louis Cardinals to 5½ games, after Milwaukee’s win against St. Louis. The Cardinals currently occupy second place, trailing the Cubs by six games. Chicago will aim to maintain this momentum through their homestand while hoping for a favorable split in the Cardinals-Brewers series.
Looking ahead, the Cubs will face a challenging opponent in Friday’s game as Paul Skenes starts for the Pirates. Despite his promising potential, Skenes’ 6-8 record in 14 starts suggests he is not unbeatable. Cade Horton will take the mound for the Cubs, with first pitch scheduled for 1:20 p.m. CT, and coverage available on Marquee Sports Network and MLB Network outside the local market areas.
Respect for Andrew McCutchen
Notably, some fans voiced displeasure towards Andrew McCutchen with boos during his at-bat, a reaction that sparked discussion given McCutchen’s reputation as a respected player across the league. McCutchen remains a fan favorite and his treatment at Wrigley Field was met with criticism from observers.
The Cubs’ victory on this day, fueled by Pete Crow-Armstrong’s stunning home run performance and solid pitching by Taillon, underscored the team’s resilience and competitive edge as they continue their homestand at Wrigley Field.