PHOENIX — Chicago Cubs superstar Pete Crow-Armstrong had to be restrained by his own third-base coach during Wednesday’s game at Chase Field, fuming at a blown balk call that shifted the momentum in an eventual 2-0 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Crow-Armstrong, a National League MVP candidate, led off the sixth inning by lining a double into the right-field corner off Diamondbacks starter Eduardo Rodriguez, once again putting pressure on the opponent.
With a 0-0 score, two outs and Crow-Armstrong on third base, Rodriguez shortened his delivery and threw a quick pitch toward Michael Busch, Chicago’s cleanup hitter. Immediately, Crow-Armstrong raised his arms and Cubs third-base coach Quintin Berry pointed toward the mound.
The four umpires huddled together for a quick discussion before crew chief Alfonso Márquez announced: “After crew consultation, it is determined it is not a balk.”
At that point, Crow-Armstrong became so animated that Berry steered him back toward third base. Cubs manager Craig Counsell, already on the field seeking an explanation, also hurried in that direction, trying to calm down an emotional player.
“I saw four umpires miss a pretty obvious play,” Crow-Armstrong told reporters at his locker afterward. “They’re out there every day, just like we are. Their one job is to get calls right. And if they get it wrong, they’re supposed to talk about it and figure it out and get it right. They didn’t.”
During this sequence, the Cubs failed to drive in Crow-Armstrong. And then Jordan Lawlar led off the bottom of the sixth inning for the Diamondbacks by launching a home run off Matthew Boyd over the right-field wall, another momentum-changing swing.
Frustrations had been building for Pete Crow-Armstrong and the Cubs. (Chris Coduto / Getty Images)
Márquez, through a pool reporter, acknowledged after the game that the umpire crew missed the balk call against Rodriguez.
“It’s obvious to everybody on TV,” Counsell told reporters during his postgame media session. “The umpires said he did not disengage from the rubber. He disengaged from the rubber in his windup. Tough call for the home-plate and second-base umpire. Easy call for the first- and third-base umpire.”
For the Cubs, these frustrations were building with three walk-off losses over the previous five days. The Diamondbacks won this three-game series even though Chicago’s starters — Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes and Boyd — combined to allow only one run across 20 innings.
Chicago’s 2-4 road trip through Seattle and Phoenix started with a 10-inning loss to the Mariners that included a balk call against Boyd, a dispute that led to Counsell’s ejection and lingered in Crow-Armstrong’s mind.
“I think they find new ways to screw something up every day,” Crow-Armstrong said.
Berry engaged in a shouting match with Arizona coaches during Monday’s game, when the Diamondbacks incorrectly believed the Cubs were operating outside the rules in relaying real-time information to their hitters.
Before Wednesday’s game, Counsell revealed that versatile pitcher Ben Brown (neck injury) experienced a setback in his push to return this season. Meanwhile, the Brewers continue to maintain a comfortable lead in the NL Central.
Crow-Armstrong certainly looked like he could use Thursday’s off-day in Chicago after going 1-for-12 with a walk during this series and striking out three times in Wednesday’s loss.
“That’s not to take away from what Eduardo was doing to us today,” Crow-Armstrong said, “because he was All-Star Eduardo Rodriguez. He was nails. When a guy is shoving it down your throat … you got to find any way you can to make something happen. That’s exactly what I was trying to do, and I executed. It would have been nice if the umpires did the same.”
