PCA’s defense vs. Dodgers is straight from Hollywood script
LOS ANGELES — Pete Crow-Armstrong's first series in his hometown of Los Angeles was extra special for one Chicago-area transplant.
Crow-Armstrong was born shortly after his father, Naperville native Matt Armstrong, moved to California to advance his acting career. Armstrong had a nice run in Hollywood, then pivoted to being a high school teacher a few years ago.
Sitting in the stands at Dodger Stadium, watching his son make a variety of impressive catches in the outfield, was very much an “I can't believe this is my life” moment.
“I think I even said that exact thing, maybe,” Matt Armstrong said. “It's really wild. Getting to see him come home, doing well and so many people came out that have known him forever. It was very cool.”
Armstong talked about having flashbacks to the time 4-year-old Pete did some tumbling on the outfield grass as part of a gymnastics exhibition, then got to meet Dodgers third baseman Nomar Garciaparra.
“He made a catch in the outfield (Monday) and it was the first time I got emotional watching in a while,” Armstrong said.
Actually, PCA was a walking web gem in the first two games of the series in LA, both Cubs victories. He jumped above the fence to rob Max Muncy of a 2-run homer for the final out of a 6-3 win on Tuesday, snaring the ball after a fan tried to catch it in his hat and missed. Crow-Armstrong made a diving grab running toward the infield, a sliding catch on the warning track, and even caught a deep fly by Shohei Ohtani backhanded after getting crossed up with right fielder Cody Bellinger.
PCA's reaction to the home-run robbery was a nonchalant, “Mike Tauchman did the same thing,” last season in St. Louis.
“It's just kind of funny how the game of baseball works and the ball finds you,” Crow-Armstrong said. “We've been working for that catch our whole lives pretty much.”
In between the amazing catches, Crow-Armstrong was hearing it from L.A. fans in the outfield and could be seen on camera talking back.
“They were yelling at me all game,” he said. “Easy target coming back home and hearing a lot about where you're from and all that. But it makes it fun. I respond to that well, I think, and truthfully enjoy the back and forth between the fans. At least I know they're into it.”
While the glove work was always impressive, Crow-Armstrong has taken giant leaps at the plate. On July 26, he was hitting a season-low .180. Since then, his batting average is .328 and the Cubs' record is 26-14 over that span.
Way back in April, Crow-Armstrong didn't have any hits when he was called up to the majors for the second time. He finally collected his first hit in dramatic fashion — a 2-run, game-winning home run in the sixth inning against Houston.
His dad was following the game from work, with less than ideal circumstances. He was giving a test to his 12th-grade honors English class.
“I was just settling in, giving them a test, and once they knew what they were doing, I opened my computer and I see Pete jogging,” Matt Armstrong said. “I was just like, 'There's no way he hit a home run.' In my head, I'm like, 'Oh, he flew out or something.'
“But then I'm like, 'Oh, no, something's actually happening.' So I was like, 'I think my kid just hit a home run,' and the class went crazy. It was pretty funny. I just missed (seeing it live).”
Armstrong was an All-Area linebacker during his high school days at Naperville Central and wishes he could take credit for his son's ridiculous speed.
“I swear to God, I think he got faster once he got up to the majors,” Armstrong said. “I don't know, something clicked and he found another level. I wish I could say it came from me. I was quick, not fast.”
Crow-Armstrong's defensive display at Dodger Stadium was built on speed, but best viewed in slow-motion.