Controversial Call Fuels Cubs’ Frustration in Loss to Diamondbacks

PHOENIX — Emotions ran high for Pete Crow-Armstrong after a pivotal moment in the Chicago Cubs’ game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Cubs were struggling against Arizona’s lefty Eduardo Rodríguez on Wednesday until Crow-Armstrong hit a double to open the sixth inning. He advanced to third on a groundout, setting up a potential breakthrough for the team.

During Rodríguez’s 2-1 pitch to Michael Busch, Crow-Armstrong’s aggressive movement toward home seemed to cause a balk. Rodríguez appeared to react to Crow-Armstrong by stepping off the rubber, potentially giving the Cubs their first run. Awaiting a balk call, Crow-Armstrong and third-base coach Quintin Berry signalled toward Rodríguez. However, the pivotal decision ultimately didn’t go in their favor.

Lead umpire Alfonso Márquez, after consulting with other umpires, maintained the original ruling of no balk. This infuriated Crow-Armstrong, who moved toward third-base umpire Malachi Moore. Berry intervened, pushing Crow-Armstrong back to prevent ejection. Afterward, second-base umpire Lance Barksdale approached Crow-Armstrong, which the player found unsatisfactory.

I saw four umpires miss a pretty obvious play, Crow-Armstrong remarked. They’re supposed to talk about it, figure it out, and get it right. And they didn’t.

Márquez later admitted the missed call, which could have given the Cubs a 1-0 lead, was not eligible for video review. We just didn’t see it, Márquez stated after reviewing the postgame video.

The game intensified as Busch walked, but Nico Hoerner struck out, ending the inning. Diamondbacks’ Jordan Lawlar hit a solo home run shortly after, followed by another run in the eighth, sealing the Cubs’ 2-0 loss. Manager Craig Counsell commented on the missed call: It’s obvious to everybody on TV. They flat out missed it.

After the game, Crow-Armstrong expressed that admitting the missed call postgame didn’t help. So they should have admitted that right after they got it wrong, he said. In the series, Crow-Armstrong went 1-for-12, contributing only one walk and striking out thrice.

The Cubs squandered solid pitching performances from Kevin Gausman, Clay Holmes, and Matthew Boyd, who allowed a single run over 20 innings. With a day off, they hope to recover in upcoming games against the Cincinnati Reds and Milwaukee Brewers. Reflecting on his performance, Crow-Armstrong acknowledged his shortcomings, pointing to his frustration over the series’ results.