Pete Crow-Armstrong delivered a rare hitting performance Monday night, completing the 13th cycle in Chicago Cubs history as the team edged the Colorado Rockies 5-4 at Wrigley Field. Crow-Armstrong, the Cubs’ star center fielder, went 4-for-4 with a leadoff home run, triple, double, and single, marking a reverse cycle and extending his impressive stretch at the plate.

Despite his offensive heroics, Crow-Armstrong expressed frustration after the game over a crucial error he made during the contest. Shortly after his cycle, he was picked off first base, a lapse he acknowledged could have cost the Cubs the game. “I had a real lapse in focus. And that really could have hurt us tonight,” he said. The Cubs, who have struggled for consistency this season, rely on every opportunity to secure victories, and Crow-Armstrong noted the team’s need to eliminate mistakes moving forward.

Crow-Armstrong has been a standout performer in recent weeks, batting .453 with seven home runs and 14 extra-base hits since the end of May. This hot streak follows several key moments, including a 444-foot home run in St. Louis that silenced detractors and a walk-off hit against the Oakland Athletics. His contributions have drawn admiration from teammates, with starting pitcher Shota Imanaga calling him “a player that overcomes your imagination.”

The Cubs’ victory on Monday was far from smooth, as the team faced challenges throughout the night. Despite Crow-Armstrong’s success at the plate, Chicago left 15 runners on base and went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. The bullpen struggled, issuing a bases-loaded walk and surrendering a three-run home run. Manager Craig Counsell acknowledged the uneven play, stating, “Pete had an incredible night. Shota had a really good night. And then a lot of other things felt like they didn’t go right.”

Trailing 4-3 entering the ninth inning against the National League’s worst team, the Cubs rallied to load the bases. Pedro Ramirez delivered a game-tying single, followed by a walk-off walk from Matt Shaw to secure the win. Crow-Armstrong credited the team’s resilience, calling Chicago “a scrappy team” that aspires to become more “dangerous” as the season progresses.

The Cubs will rely on more consistent performances from their roster to regain the form that once made them contenders in the NL Central. Counsell emphasized the importance of collective contributions, saying, “When you talk about how you’re going to need the whole roster to help you win games, that’s what happened tonight.”

As Crow-Armstrong continues to lead Chicago’s offense, the team will hope his momentum can spark a broader turnaround in the months ahead.