Pete Crow-Armstrong scored the tying run in the bottom of the ninth inning in what was a thrilling comeback win for his Chicago Cubs on Monday night, but it wasn’t necessarily an even sequence.
With the Cubs trailing the visiting Cincinnati Reds 4-3 in the final frame, Crow-Armstrong led things off with a triple. Nico Hoerner then stepped to the plate with one out and hit a fly ball to left field.
Being among the fastest players in baseball, Crow-Armstrong was sent to home plate on what turned out to be a sacrifice fly and crossed the plate standing up, but he should have come down and slid as he was nearly thrown out.
Chicago Cubs outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong reacts after striking out against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California on April 25, 2026. (Kiyoshi Mio/Imagn Images)
CUBS CO-OWNER PUSHES BACK ON WOKE BACKLASH MAT SHAW RECEIVED FOR ATTENDING CHARLIE KIRK’S MINOR NOTICE
In that scenario, the player in the cover circle is responsible for telling the runner whether to slide into home or cross. The player in this situation was Matt Shaw who, according to the PCA’s reaction in the dugout, did not fulfill his duties.
The broadcast caught Crow-Armstrong getting animated in the dugout with Shaw, telling him his signaling wasn’t nearly good enough, which almost led to disaster on the play.
PCA was in no way disrespectful or excessive with Shaw; he simply let the second-year player know he needed to be bolder in that situation.
Shaw didn’t get an opportunity at the plate to potentially win the game after PCA tied things up when Michael Conforto stepped in to pinch-hit for him.
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Pete Crow-Armstrong #4 of the Chicago Cubs reacts during a game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Wrigley Field on April 20, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images) (Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images)
It turned out to be the right move by Chicago manager Craig Counsell.
Conforto launched a fastball to left-center field for the walk-off home run to extend the Cubs’ hitting streak to six games with a 5-4 win. It was certainly an opportune time for Conforto to hit his first long ball of the season.
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Michael Conforto #20 of the Chicago Cubs celebrates his pinch hit walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth inning in a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field on May 4, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images) (Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images)
The Cubs, dating back to April 14, have won 16 of their last 19 games, but surprisingly only have a two-game lead in the National League Central standings.
