Wrigley Field got its usual share of drama, but this one came with a twist in the bleachers. While Pete Crow-Armstrong was busy putting together a monster afternoon against the Reds, a fight broke out among Cubs fans and briefly pulled the spotlight away from the field.
The wildest moment came in the bottom of the seventh, right as Crow-Armstrong was lining up his third homer of the game. Security guards hurried toward the section, but several men were already throwing punches. Fans nearby captured the whole scene on their phones, with the video showing the melee unfolding at the same time PCA launched the home run.
Crow-Armstrong’s performance was the kind that usually owns the conversation by itself. He went 4-for-6, drove in six runs, and powered Chicago to a 17-5 win over the Cincinnati Reds.
It was the first three-homer game of his major league career, and it also made him the youngest player in Cubs franchise history to hit three home runs in one game. On top of that, his season numbers climbed to 38 home runs and 32 stolen bases.
The day had already started with a notable connection for Crow-Armstrong. Before the game, he had two brief run-ins and conversations with former Cubs star Sammy Sosa, and those exchanges ended up preceding a day Cubs fans won’t forget.
Chicago is now 77-60 on the 2026 MLB season and sits second in the National League Central behind the Milwaukee Brewers.
In Other News...
Former Cubs Prospect Is Making The Gausman Trade Look Riskier
Brett Bateman is already making a strong first impression in Toronto, and that matters for Cubs fans because his path there traces back to the Kevin Gausman deal. Since his debut with the Blue Jays on Aug. 8, Bateman has hit well enough to become a useful part of a team that is pushing its way deeper into the playoff picture, which adds an early layer of intrigue to a trade that was supposed to be centered on pitching.
For Chicago, the more immediate concern is how the other side of the swap has gone. Gausman has struggled in his first five starts with the Cubs, carrying a 5.14 ERA, and the contrast has only sharpened with Batemans early production north of the border. It is still early in the story of the trade, but the opening chapter already looks a lot different depending on which clubhouse you are watching. [Read more 🡒]
Cubs Give Craig Counsell A New Bench Option For The Stretch Run
When rosters expand, the Cubs are planning to add another layer of depth for the stretch run by selecting the contract of corner infielder B.J. Murray. The 26-year-old switch-hitter is not currently on the 40-man roster, but Chicago has room to make the move, and his profile fits the kind of late-season insurance contenders tend to value.
Murray, a 2021 draft pick, has built a reputation for providing offense along with flexibility around the diamond. He has spent his pro career showing he can handle both infield and outfield duties, which gives Craig Counsell another potential bench piece as the Cubs navigate the final weeks of the season and look for ways to keep matchups in their favor. [Read more 🡒]
Shelby Miller Suddenly Looks Like A Bigger Cubs Bullpen Concern
Shelby Millers rehab process has become one of the quieter health watch items for the Cubs, and not in a way that offers much comfort. He was pulled from a minor-league outing after hitting a 15-pitch limit, then sat out the next two scheduled games, which only reinforces how carefully the club is handling his return. Chicago has made clear it wants to see more than a single clean appearance before it considers him ready for the bullpen.
The bigger issue now is whether Miller can show he is built to work on consecutive days, since that has been the standard the Cubs have been waiting on throughout the rehab. Until he does, the timeline remains unsettled, and the next update is expected once the roster expansion period begins. For a bullpen that could use another dependable arm, the delay leaves another question hanging over the late-season picture. [Read more 🡒]