Pay Attention Kids, this Cubs Outfielder Showboated and Handed the Cardinals a Win
Well, if you like fireworks, drama, and a little bit of baseball chaos, game two of the Cardinals-Cubs series delivered everything. Five home runs. Twenty-three hits. Highlight-reel defense. But when the dust finally settled, it was a mental mistake — not a moonshot or diving catch — that proved to be the game-changer. The St. Louis Cardinals edged out the Chicago Cubs 8–7 on Tuesday night at Busch Stadium, and it all swung on a brain freeze from likely Cubs outfielder, All-Star center fielder, Pete Crow-Armstrong.
For more nail-biting action, check this recap of the Cardinals walk off against the Reds.
Let’s rewind a bit.
It started early with Lars Nootbaar blasting a two-run homer in the second to put St. Louis on the board. But the Cubs came roaring back in the third with a five-spot, capped by a Seiya Suzuki three-run bomb. The Cardinals responded — and fast. Masyn Winn tied the game with a two-run shot, Nolan Gorman followed up with a solo blast, and before you knew it, Winn was at it again with a two-run double that put St. Louis on top.
And then came the moment.
With one out and Winn standing on second, Alec Burleson hit a fly ball to center. Crow-Armstrong tracked it down for the second out — but he didn’t realize that. Thinking it was the third out, he started jogging toward the dugout instead of throwing the ball in. Winn, never hesitating, turned on the jets and scored from second. That was the eighth run for the Cardinals — and it ended up being the difference.
The Cubs tried to claw their way back. Nico Hoerner finally hit his first homer of the season in the sixth to cut it to 8–7. They had more chances, too. In the seventh, Suzuki was stranded at second after Burleson made a leaping catch near the netting in right. And in the ninth? High drama. Two runners on, two outs, Dansby Swanson at the plate — and Nolan Arenado, a 10-time Gold Glove winner, did what only Nolan Arenado can do. He barehanded a slow roller and fired it to first just in time to end the game.
With this win, the Cardinals have now taken the first two games of the four-game set and pulled within 2.5 games of the Cubs in the NL Central. St. Louis is also now tied with the Milwaukee Brewers for the final NL Wild Card spot, and momentum is very much on their side.
