Pete Crow-Armstrong Hits Leadoff and Walk-off Homers in 7-5 Cubs Win

Pete Crow-Armstrong became the first Cubs player in franchise history to hit a leadoff and walk-off home run in a single game during a 7-5 win over the White Sox.

Pete Crow-Armstrong powered the Chicago Cubs to a 7-5, 10-inning victory over the Chicago White Sox at Wrigley Field on Monday night, recording both a leadoff home run and a walk-off blast. The 24-year-old center fielder ended the contest with a two-run shot off reliever Hagen Smith in the bottom of the 10th inning, driving the ball 380 feet despite being fooled by a slider. This performance marked the first time in Cubs franchise history that a player achieved a leadoff and walk-off home run in the same game, and the first time any MLB player has done so since 2010. The victory featured five lead changes and saw Crow-Armstrong finish the night with a home run, a single, a double, and a walk.

Crow-Armstrong’s offensive production against the White Sox elevated his season OPS to .929, the second-highest mark in the National League behind Shohei Ohtani’s .948. By hitting his 30th home run of the year, he officially joined the 30/30 club for the second consecutive season. He is now the first player in Cubs history to record back-to-back seasons of at least 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases. Additionally, he stands as the only player in franchise history to produce multiple 30-homer seasons before reaching the age of 25.

Early Adjustments Lead to Historic Performance

The historic night began when Crow-Armstrong launched the first pitch he saw from White Sox starter Luis Castillo out of the park. This power surge followed a difficult weekend series against the St. Louis Cardinals, which prompted the outfielder to arrive early at the ballpark on Monday for extra work. Alongside hitting coach John Mallee, Crow-Armstrong utilized tee work and cage flips to refine his swing. He noted that the purpose of the flips was to observe ball flight outside of the cage environment. Manager Craig Counsell described the outing as perhaps the best game of the young outfielder's big league career.

Reliever Jacob Webb earned the win after navigating a high-pressure situation in the top of the 10th inning. Crow-Armstrong credited Webb’s performance as a highlight of the game, stating he finds more enjoyment in watching his teammates succeed than focusing on individual accolades. Cubs starter Shota Imanaga, speaking through an interpreter, remarked that the center fielder consistently surpasses the expectations placed upon him, noting he had never met a player with such capabilities.

MVP Race and Tactical Decisions

Crow-Armstrong’s recent surge has solidified his position as a National League MVP candidate alongside Shohei Ohtani, who also hit two home runs on Monday. Despite the high stakes of the 10th inning, White Sox manager Will Venable opted not to walk Crow-Armstrong to set up a force play, even with first base open and the automatic runner on second. Venable explained that walking the outfielder was not a viable option because Seiya Suzuki was looming in the on-deck circle, which would have put the White Sox in a more difficult defensive position.

Crow-Armstrong attributed his success to a "pedal to the metal" mentality, emphasizing the importance of swinging with conviction and not fearing a strikeout. The game drew a crowd of over 40,000 fans to Wrigley Field to witness the rival matchup. The victory moved the Cubs forward in their season campaign while cementing Crow-Armstrong's place in the record books as the youngest player in team history to reach his specific power and speed milestones.