ST. LOUIS – Pete Crow-Armstrong, a key player in the Chicago Cubs’ promising start to the 2025 season, faced a challenging game on Tuesday night. His mental lapse and a failed bunt attempt contributed significantly to the Cubs’ 8-7 defeat against the St. Louis Cardinals, marking their third consecutive loss and matching their longest losing streak of the season.
Immediate Impact
The game took a turn in the fourth inning when Crow-Armstrong, playing center field, lost track of the outs. This oversight allowed Masyn Winn to score from second base on a flyout, a mistake that was widely circulated on social media.
“Yeah simple as that [forgetting how many outs],” Crow-Armstrong admitted.
Key Details Emerge
Later in the game, with runners on the corners and one out, Crow-Armstrong attempted a push bunt. Unfortunately, the ball landed directly in front of the plate and was easily fielded by Cardinals’ pitcher JoJo Romero, resulting in a second out. The inning ended when Dansby Swanson flew out to Alec Burleson, who made a spectacular catch in foul territory.
“I didn’t do a good job of playing the game of baseball today,” Crow-Armstrong reflected post-game.
By the Numbers
Despite the rough outing, Crow-Armstrong has been a defensive stalwart for the Cubs. He leads National League outfielders with 10 Outs Above Average and has consistently delivered highlight-reel performances.
Industry Response
Jameson Taillon, the Cubs’ pitcher who allowed eight earned runs in four innings, defended his teammate:
“He’s been so good for us this year,” Taillon stated. “Obviously, he’s one of the best defenders in baseball. That’s just a freak thing, you know? He takes a lot of pride in his defense, takes a lot of pride in being a great teammate, so I’m not too worried about it.”
Background Context
The Cubs are currently 1-5 in their last six games, risking back-to-back series losses for the second time this month. Their June record stands at 10-11, with a narrow 2.5-game lead over the Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central.
What Comes Next
Despite recent setbacks, Crow-Armstrong remains optimistic about the team’s prospects:
“We got a very capable group, a lot of good leadership in this clubhouse,” he said. “This clubhouse has every ability to keep playing the way we were playing. Things haven’t gone our way, and we haven’t played the best baseball over the last couple weeks, but it’s just a two-week stretch that I’m positive we’re going to get past.”
When asked how the team plans to recover, Crow-Armstrong simply replied, “Go to sleep and wake up.”
The Cubs will need to regroup quickly as they aim to end their losing streak and maintain their lead in the division. With strong leadership and a commitment to improvement, the team hopes to turn their fortunes around in the coming games.
