PCA loves beating LA, Cubs win fourth straight over Dodgers

Pete Crow-Armstrong should be able to walk down Ventura Boulevard in Sherman Oaks with his head held high after becoming a certified Dodgers nemesis.

There's just one problem: Nobody walks in L.A.

“Sherman Oaks isn't like the greatest walking place,” Crow-Armstong said. “I never really took any walks except to walk my dog. Definitely the next time I land at LAX, I'll enjoy that moment for sure.”

Crow-Armstrong hit a 3-run, opposite-field home run in the fourth inning, added an RBI single in the fifth, and the Cubs held on to win 7-6 on Wednesday at Wrigley Field.

The third-year center fielder has hit 4 of his 15 career homers against his hometown team, while the Cubs won the season series against the Dodgers 4-3, winning four in a row after losing the first three.

Dodgers MVP Shohei Ohtani homered against the Cubs in Tokyo. But in the five games played in the United States, he went 2-for-21 against Cubs pitching and stuck out against Porter Hodge in the ninth inning Wednesday.

Despite playing the toughest schedule in MLB, the Cubs are in a nice spot with a 16-10 record, having won the season series against the Dodgers and Diamondbacks, while splitting with the Padres.

“You don't know if it's going to matter,” manager Craig Counsell said beating the NL's best. “It's April and we've got 130 games left on the schedule. At the end, it could matter. It's a sign you're playing good baseball against very good teams.”

Looking back on this game, it's debatable what was the most impressive play by Crow-Armstrong. The home run was huge, no doubt. But he also made a catch in center field on a line drive hit by Tommy Edman look routine. Statcast said the ball had a 91% chance of being a hit, but PCA got a nice jump and made a chest-high catch without leaving his feet.

Not only did the Cubs acquire an apparent superstar in Kyle Tucker, they also might have a budding star in Crow-Armstrong.

“I don't know what's really clicked,” Crow-Armstrong said. “I've been feeling good since the spring, but it's just easy to kind of go out there and execute when you've got a lineup of gangsters. It's cool.”

Even though he was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, Crow-Armstrong grew up a Cubs fan, thanks to his father, Matt Armstrong, a lifelong Cubs fan from Naperville. Pete knew all about Wrigley Field but is just starting to appreciate the level of fan support, especially from the bleachers.

“There were a number of Dodgers fans in the bleachers behind me, so I didn't feel like I got my full fix of getting to say hi,” Crow-Armstrong said. “I've seen Ian (Happ) do it a number of times where he's hit a homer and they all give him that ovation. It's really cool. It's a one-of-a-kind place that we play at.”

One thing he hasn't learned to appreciate, though, are the PCA chants from the crowd, which have been going on since the season opener in Tokyo.

“If anything, I've tried to tune that out,” he said. “I was actually thinking about it yesterday, 'I've got to be 0-for-20 when they've chanted my name.'”

Seiya Suzuki was scratched from Wednesday's lineup after reaggravating a sprained wrist while sliding into second base the previous night. Counsell said closer Ryan Pressly had his right knee drained on Tuesday, and the hope is he'll be available to pitch Friday.

That's why Hodge came on to get the save. Daniel Palencia and Julian Merryweather also pitched scoreless innings in relief of starter Matthew Boyd.