The extra-loud ovation that greeted Pete Crow-Armstrong before his first at-bat Thursday at Wrigley Field made it clear that every game he plays now has the potential to become a must-see event.
Crow-Armstrong rewarded the fans in attendance with a franchise history-making swing. Lining a high fastball into the right-field bleachers, Crow-Armstrong didn’t just become the first major-league player to reach the 20 home run and 20 stolen base mark this season.
He also joined the 20-20 club faster than any Cub in any season.
“It’s just an honor to be able to do that,” Crow-Armstrong said Thursday after the Cubs’ 8-7 loss to the Brewers.
The previous Cubs record-holder was Sammy Sosa, who set the bar for both fewest individual games (96) in 1994 and team games (100) in 1995, according to team historian Ed Hartig.
Thursday marked Crow-Armstrong’s 73rd game of the season and the team’s 74th.
Only three MLB players have reached the 20-20 mark in fewer games played in a season: Eric Davis in 46 games (1987), Jose Canseco in 68 (1998) and Fernando Tatis Jr. in 71 (2021), according to mlb.com.
“It’s one thing to have special talent, it’s another to go out there and do it,” shortstop Dansby Swanson said of Crow-Armstrong. “That’s just been such a really cool thing, to be able to play with a guy that’s electric in every way, shape or form. And just the consistency that he’s been doing it has also been just as impressive.”
Crow-Armstrong’s two-run blast off Brewers star pitcher Freddy Peralta gave the Cubs a 2-1 lead in the first inning.
“It’s really cool to see him just step into that role, become a star,” said Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon, who allowed five runs in four innings Thursday. “He’s always had that air about him, but to watch him put in the work, make some adjustments, hit some pretty low lows in the big leagues, and to be able to punch back and become who he is today is a testament to Pete.”
Rotation shuffle
Rain postponing the game Wednesday allowed the Cubs to subtly shuffle their rotation. Taillon, who was originally scheduled to pitch Wednesday, had his start moved back a day.
Lefty Matthew Boyd, however, is set to remain on his normal six-day schedule and start Friday in the series opener against the Mariners. The Cubs moved rookie Cade Horton to the other side of Boyd, pitching Saturday instead of Thursday as originally scheduled. They have right-hander Colin Rea penciled in for Sunday.
The Cubs will have to decide where to slot in left-hander Shota Iamanaga (strained left hamstring) whenever he returns from the injured list. He is scheduled to make his first rehab start for Triple-A Iowa and third overall on Friday, at which point the Cubs will evaluate next steps.
Homers not enough
Crow-Armstrong’s home run was one of three by the Cubs on Thursday. Swanson also homered off Peralta, a solo shot in the fourth inning. And switch-hitting Ian Happ hit a two-run blast off left-hander Aaron Ashby in the seventh, putting the first blemishes on Ashby’s previously scoreless season.
The Cubs have recorded three or more home runs in 15 games this season, of which they’ve only lost two.