Cubs’ Crow-Armstrong, Tucker Put Droughts Behind Them: ‘About Time’

It’s no secret that the Cubs have, going back nearly two months, struggled to score runs and–to no one’s surprise–have struggled to win games as well. Chicago was 59-39 on July 19, and star outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong had 26 home runs at that point. Fellow star Kyle Tucker had 18 home runs.

Heading into Friday’s game against the Angels, Tucker still had 18 homers and PCA had 27. Yes, the pair combined for one home run in that 30-game span for the Cubs.

But in what was a major relief for the team, the Cubs saw both sluggers finally break their droughts on Friday in a 3-2 win that seemed to signal the North Siders are back on track. Tucker, who has been dealing with a broken bone in his hand, hit one in the first inning to stake the Cubs to a 1-0 lead, and it was Crow-Armstrong who won the game with a ninth-inning homer off closer Kenley Jansen.

Don’t look now but the Cubs have won six out of eight games as they start this road trip through some bad teams out West (the Giants and Rockies will follow the Angels).

Cubs Stars Notch Big Homers

PCA readily acknowledged his struggles and the relief he felt to have the game-winning swing. He has been in the midst of a difficult August in which he hit .159 with an OPS of just .470.

“Without sounding too sour about anything, it’s about time I stepped up in a situation like that,” he told reporters after the game. “I don’t really know what to say … I’m processing, and it felt great.”

He added, “It’s time to start putting up more runs and being a part of that. We’ve shown that we’re really capable of coming back in games all year. We’ve shown that we’re really capable of putting up big numbers in any inning.”

Pete Crow-Armstrong: Kyle Tucker Is ‘So Pro’

As for Tucker, the revelation that he has been playing through a hand injury helped explain his recent struggles with the bat, but also raised questions about whether the Cubs should have been sitting him. He, too, has had an awful August, batting just .145 with a .452 OPS.

And Crow-Armstrong gave Tucker credit for “freeing” him.

“Kyle’s just … He’s so pro,” Crow-Armstrong told reporters. “Any guy with a track record like that, you’re always just kind of waiting for that one swing from him. He got us off to a good start tonight.

“I mean, the guy’s great to have around. He’s been battling whatever he’s been battling, but he hasn’t made that the thing. All he’s done is come in and work … If anything, he’s taught me how to stay the course. But he was also the last person to come up and pat me on the butt before my last at-bat.”

Crow-Armstrong added that Tucker’s first-inning homer was a relief for everyone. “I felt a little bit freed up for him,” he said. “I think that honestly contributed to me taking my fourth at-bat … The most rewarding thing in my recent memory is looking toward the dugout 30 minutes ago. I’ve been wanting so badly to be able to celebrate something like that with them.”