PCA leads Cubs' HR barrage in his 'best day in the big leagues'

ST. LOUIS -- The Cubs got an unexpected power boost on Sunday against the Cardinals.

Pete Crow-Armstrong and Tomás Nido, the No. 9 and No. 8 hitters respectively, combined for three home runs to help power Chicago to an 8-3 win, splitting a four-game series against its NL Central rivals heading into the All-Star break.

Crow-Armstrong and Nido sparked a power-hitting flurry as the Cubs combined for six home runs, tying the mark for the most by an opposing team in Busch Stadium III history.

“It was fun to watch for sure,” manager Craig Counsell said. “We did a really nice job. We got down early, but swung the bats really well. A lot of just good swings, drove the ball really well. Pete had his best day in the big leagues and that was fun to watch.”

Crow-Armstrong started the power surge with the first of his two home runs in the third. That kicked off a two-run rally as Nico Hoerner followed with a double and scored on Seiya Suzuki’s infield hit to tie the game at 2.

“It's funny how this game works,” Crow-Armstrong said. “We did a lot of curveball machine work over the last two weeks every day and it worked out for me.”

Nido and Crow-Armstrong went back to back to give the Cubs a 4-2 lead in the fifth. Nido drove a Miles Mikolas fastball the other way over the right-field wall and Crow-Armstrong deposited a curveball to straightaway center.

Crow-Armstrong entered the game with just one homer in 189 career plate appearances. The rookie center fielder hit a combined 814 feet of home runs in his first two at-bats on Sunday.

The 22-year-old is the youngest player to hit multiple home runs in a game at Busch Stadium III. He entered the game batting .194 but raised his average to .203 with the 2-for-3 performance.

“There's no secret that I've been pretty crap at the plate,” Crow-Armstrong said. “So I think there's a balance of focusing on the defensive side of things, and now I guess it's just kind of evening that out and acting like I belong here and hopefully more days like that come.”

Christopher Morel continued the power display with his first of two homers, a two-run laser to make it 6-2 Cubs in the sixth. Ian Happ and Morel went back to back in the eighth. It was Morel’s first career multihomer game.

“Everybody's working hard to try to contribute,” Nido said. “Sometimes it doesn't go our way, but it seems like lately we've been putting together really good at-bats and scoring a lot of runs.”

The six homers for the Cubs were the most in a game since they launched seven against the Reds on Aug. 1, 2023. It was the first time they had multiple back-to-back dingers in a game since May 28, 2019, against the Astros.

It was more than enough offense for Cubs starter Jameson Taillon (7-4), who allowed three runs on seven hits in 5 2/3 innings. The four homers allowed by Mikolas (7-8) were the most he’s allowed in his career.

Taillon got some help from his defense throughout the game.

Happ ended the second inning by throwing out Pedro Pagés at second. It was Happ’s second assist in as many games and it was the seventh assist by Cubs outfielders since June 20, the most in the Majors.

Hoerner, who extended his hitting streak to a season-high 11 games, made a diving stop to rob Brandon Crawford of a single in the third and Dansby Swanson did the same to Nolan Arenado in the fourth. Both plays helped turn away possible game-changing rallies.

“Those dudes sort of just flying all over the field,” Taillon said. “They played a doubleheader yesterday. They come out today playing that kind of ‘D’ with that kind of effort. That's pretty inspirational, and that means a lot to me.”

Crow-Armstrong also made a pair of running catches in center field to round out his stellar day.

After dropping both games of a doubleheader on Saturday, the win gives the Cubs momentum heading into the All-Star break.

“I think we're going into it in the way we wanted to go into it,” Counsell said. “We finished the job today and got a split in the series and finished a 5-2 road trip, so it's a good way to go into the break.”