Pete Crow-Armstrong snapped out of a slump in timely fashion, hitting a go-ahead home run in the ninth inning as the Chicago Cubs defeated the Los Angeles Angels 3-2 on Friday night at Angel Stadium. The win marked the start of a nine-game road trip for Chicago, which is fighting to maintain its grip on a National League wild-card position.
Crow-Armstrong entered the game mired in a 0-for-3 night with two strikeouts, but with one out in the ninth, he connected on a 92 mph cutter from Angels closer Kenley Jansen (5-4). The ball carried 396 feet into the right-field seats, giving the Cubs the decisive edge. It was Crow-Armstrong’s 28th homer of the season and his first in 25 games, breaking his longest power drought of the year.
Kyle Tucker also rediscovered his swing, homering in the opening inning off Los Angeles starter Tyler Anderson. The solo shot ended a 25-game homerless streak dating back to July 19, the longest stretch of his career since his rookie season in 2018. Tucker’s first-inning blast provided Chicago with an early lead and signaled a shift in momentum after his recent offensive struggles.
The Angels responded behind Yoán Moncada, who hit two home runs for his first multihomer game with the team. Moncada’s first homer in the fifth broke up Javier Assad’s no-hit bid, while his seventh-inning shot tied the game at 2-2. Moncada, who had been looking to settle in since joining Los Angeles, provided the only significant offensive production for the Angels.
Assad, recalled from Triple-A Iowa before the game, was sharp in his return. He allowed one run on just two hits across six innings while striking out five. The right-hander carried a no-hitter into the fifth before Moncada went deep. Brad Keller (4-1) relieved in the eighth and delivered a perfect inning to earn the win, while Daniel Palencia closed out the ninth with two strikeouts for his 19th save.
Anderson, meanwhile, extended his winless streak to 21 consecutive starts despite turning in a competitive outing. He gave up two runs on three hits in five innings, striking out five and walking two. Anderson kept the Angels in the game, but his inability to secure run support continued a frustrating trend in 2025.
Crow-Armstrong’s late heroics capped a low-scoring affair in which both teams struggled to capitalize on opportunities. For the Cubs, the long ball proved to be the difference as Tucker and Crow-Armstrong provided the offense necessary to back a strong showing from the pitching staff.
Sportsbooks had listed the Cubs as a slight -120 favorite entering the series opener, with the Angels even at money. The total was set at 8.5 runs, but the final score of 3-2 landed comfortably under, rewarding bettors who backed the under.
The two clubs continue their three-game set on Saturday in a matchup of rookie starters. Chicago will send right-hander Cade Horton (7-4, 3.08 ERA) to the mound, while Los Angeles counters with Victor Mederos (0-1, 5.54 ERA), still seeking his first major league win.
