Pete Crow-Armstrong prepares to bat during a Chicago Cubs game, showcasing his hitting stance in a minor league matchup. © wikipedia
Los Angeles, CA — Pete Crow-Armstrong played a pivotal role both offensively and defensively, driving in two runs and making multiple highlight-reel catches as the Chicago Cubs rallied to a 6-3 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday. The Cubs took advantage of three crucial defensive errors by the Dodgers in a disastrous eighth inning to secure the victory at Dodger Stadium.
The Cubs’ offense surged in the eighth, scoring five runs after Dodgers’ miscues from catcher Austin Barnes, center fielder Tommy Edman, and shortstop Enrique Hernandez. Chicago capitalized on the shaky defense, with key hits from Seiya Suzuki and Nico Hoerner, as well as a clutch RBI groundout from Crow-Armstrong to cap the scoring.
Shota Imanaga Steadies the Cubs
Shota Imanaga (13-3) delivered a solid performance for the Cubs, allowing three runs on seven hits over seven innings. He struck out four without issuing a walk, keeping the Cubs within striking distance. The left-hander was backed by a bullpen effort from Nate Pearson and Porter Hodge, with Hodge earning his fifth save—helped by a game-ending catch from Crow-Armstrong, who robbed Max Muncy of a home run in the ninth.
Dodgers’ Defensive Collapse
Leading 3-1 in the eighth inning, the Dodgers (85-60) unraveled defensively. After Barnes’ throwing error allowed the Cubs to put runners on base, Suzuki’s RBI single cut the lead to 3-2. The Dodgers then tied the game when Edman’s throw to the infield went awry. A Michael Busch grounder resulted in another error, this time from Hernandez, allowing Chicago to take the lead. Hoerner followed with an RBI double, and Crow-Armstrong added another run with a groundout, pushing the score to 6-3.
Edman, who had hit two home runs earlier in the game, couldn’t overcome his defensive mistakes in the eighth. His homers in the second and fourth innings gave the Dodgers a brief 2-1 lead, while Muncy added a solo shot in the fifth to extend the margin to 3-1.
Yamamoto Solid in Return
Yoshinobu Yamamoto made his first start for the Dodgers since June 15, pitching four innings of one-run ball with eight strikeouts. Despite a strong outing, Yamamoto was lifted after 77 pitches as he continues to recover from a shoulder injury. Dodgers’ reliever Evan Phillips (3-1) took the loss, surrendering four unearned runs in the eighth.
With the loss, the Dodgers have now dropped four of their last six games, trimming their lead over the second-place San Diego Padres to just 4 ½ games in the NL West.
Cubs Stay in Wild-Card Hunt
The Cubs (75-70) are clinging to their postseason hopes, sitting four games behind the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets for the final National League wild-card spot. Nico Hoerner and Seiya Suzuki each contributed three hits and an RBI in the crucial win, keeping Chicago’s playoff aspirations alive.
Key Takeaways:
- Pete Crow-Armstrong’s two RBIs and stellar defense propelled the Cubs to victory.
- The Dodgers’ defense faltered with three errors in the eighth inning, costing them the game.
- Shota Imanaga earned his 13th win, while Evan Phillips took the loss.
- Chicago remains in contention for the NL wild card, while Los Angeles’ lead in the NL West shrinks.
The Cubs will look to build on this momentum as they push for a playoff spot, while the Dodgers hope to shore up their defense in the final stretch of the regular season.
