In Anaheim, California, Pete Crow-Armstrong delivered a game-winning homer in the top of the ninth inning, leading the Chicago Cubs to a 3-2 victory against the Los Angeles Angels on Friday night. This marked the first game of a three-game interleague series and highlighted Crow-Armstrong’s impactful performance with a late-game surge.
Key Plays That Shaped the Game
With one out in the ninth, Crow-Armstrong connected on a 1-1 cutter from Angels closer Kenley Jansen, sending the ball 396 feet into the right-field bleachers. This was Crow-Armstrong’s 28th home run of the season and his first since July 23, breaking a significant dry spell since his last homer against the Royals.
Earlier in the game, Kyle Tucker also contributed with a home run, and Dansby Swanson added crucial offensive support by doubling, walking, and scoring a run for the Cubs, who began a nine-game western road trip with this win. Brad Keller earned the victory in relief after pitching a hitless inning, while Daniel Palencia closed out the ninth with a 1-2-3 inning and secured his 19th save of the year with two strikeouts.
Los Angeles Angels’ Offensive Response
Yoan Moncada made his mark by hitting two home runs, his first multi-homer game with the Angels. Despite Moncada’s efforts, starting pitcher Tyler Anderson extended a challenging streak, marking his 21st consecutive start without a win. Anderson pitched five innings, allowing two runs and three hits, while striking out five and walking two.
Early Scoring and Mid-Game Momentum
The Cubs took an early lead in the first inning when Tucker launched his 19th home run, a 405-foot drive into the right-field bleachers, ending a 25-game homer drought since July 19 against Boston. Chicago increased their advantage to 2-0 in the third inning. Swanson and Matt Shaw set the stage with back-to-back walks, followed by a single from Nico Hoerner to load the bases with no outs. After Tucker struck out, Seiya Suzuki delivered a sacrifice fly to score Swanson.
The Angels responded by leveling the score at 2-2 with consecutive home runs from Moncada. His first blast off Cubs starter Javier Assad was a line drive that cleared the scoreboard above the right-field fence in the fifth inning. Moncada’s second homer, hit off reliever Andrew Kittredge in the seventh, was his 11th homer of the season and traveled 399 feet.
Pitching Performances Influence the Contest
Javier Assad, recently called up from Triple-A Iowa, started for the Cubs and went six innings, giving up just one run on two hits. Assad’s outing was notable as it marked his 50th career start despite missing the first four months of the season due to a left oblique strain. He issued one walk and recorded four strikeouts before leaving the game after 72 pitches, 45 of which were strikes.
Implications and Outlook for the Cubs
This hard-fought victory is significant for the Chicago Cubs as they embark on their lengthy road trip. Crow-Armstrong’s timely home run not only ended a personal home run drought but also provided a boost of momentum for the team. Maintaining strong pitching performances and clutch hitting will be crucial as the Cubs continue their schedule against western opponents. The combination of young talent like Crow-Armstrong and key contributions from players such as Tucker and Swanson suggest the Cubs have potential to build on this promising result.