A Historic Night That Went Wrong
Pete Crow-Armstrong hit two home runs on Sunday night, including a leadoff blast that tied a rare Cubs record, yet the team still lost 7-5 to the Cincinnati Reds. It is a strange feeling for fans to watch a player have the game of his life while their team drops another defeat. According to MLB.Crow-Armstrong of the Cubs hit a full-count fastball from Reds pitcher Chase Burns to the right-field bleachers, marking his 37th homer of the year. This shot also marked his ninth leadoff shot of the season. In Cubs history, only Alfonso Soriano has recorded more leadoff homers in a single campaign, tallying 12 in 2007.
The numbers show just how potent the lineup has been when Crow-Armstrong leads off. The Cubs have led the Majors in runs scored and weighted runs created plus since he took the spot on May 23. Despite this historic offensive output, the Reds won two of three games in Chicago, handing the North Siders a 7-5 loss in the finale. Prior to a pivotal four-game series against the division-leading Brewers, the team has now lost seven of their last 10 games. The win is there for the taking, but the execution keeps falling short in key moments.
The Spark That Never Caught Fire
Manager David Counsell admitted the team needed a change after a rough stretch, but the spark they found on Sunday did not last long enough to secure a win. “We needed a jump. We needed something to change,” Counsell said, according to MLB.com. He explained that the decision to shake things up was not based on deep data but on a simple need for energy. “It wasn’t very analytical or anything like that. It was just, we needed a spark,” Counsell said.
Crow-Armstrong provided the spark by adding a second homer off Emilio Pagán during the ninth inning. The effort was enough to keep the game close, but it could not overcome the pitching struggles that have plagued the staff. Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga’s struggles with allowing home runs persisted against the Reds, which contributed to the loss. The team needs more than just a leadoff blast to beat a good division rival. They need consistent pitching to go with the heavy hitting they have been showing all month.
Looking Ahead to the Brewers
Despite the loss, Crow-Armstrong remains focused on the long-term goals of the season rather than the frustration of a single game. He knows the job is far from done, especially with the Brewers looming as the next opponent. “I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing, keep doing what we’re doing,” Crow-Armstrong said. He believes the hard work will pay off when the final standings are tallied. “And I think we’ll find ourselves in a nice position when the regular season is over,” he added.
The Cubs face a tough test in the upcoming four-game series at the Friendly Confines. They must stop the bleeding against the Brewers to stay in the hunt for the division title. The offense has shown it can score runs, as proven by the 472 runs scored since Crow-Armstrong took over the leadoff spot. The pitching staff must now step up to match that production. The team knows they have the talent to win, but they have to prove it on the field against the best teams in the league.
