Cardinals Escape With Win After Pete Crow-Armstrong Mental Blunder

After Lars Nootbaar got the scoring started in the second inning with a two-run homer, the Cubs responded with a five-run inning in the top of the third, capped off by a three-run shot from Seiya Suzuki.

A two-run shot from Masyn Winn and a solo homer by Nolan Gorman would then tie the game at five before Winn put the Cardinals back on top with a two-RBI double. Here is where the mental blunder occurred.

With Winn on second base and one out in the bottom of the fourth, Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong tracked down a well-hit fly ball by Alec Burleson. Instead of immediately throwing the ball in, though, Crow-Armstrong began to slowly make his way back to the dugout, thinking he had just made the final out of the inning.

Meanwhile, Masyn Winn never stopped running. He scored from second base on the play, putting the Cardinals up 8-5. That run would ultimately be the difference in the game.

Nico Hoerner connected for his first homer of the year in the top of the sixth to cut the lead to 8-7, but that's where the scoring stopped.

The Cubs had their opportunities to score in the late innings, but the Cardinals' defense refused to give up the lead. 

Suzuki was stranded at second base in the top of the seventh after Alec Burleson made an exceptional catch along the netting in right field, and then with two runners in scoring position and two outs in the ninth, 10-time Gold Glover Nolan Arenado did what he does best. The Cardinals' star third baseman made a barehanded play to get Dansby Swanson out by a step, sealing the Cardinals' 8-7 victory.

With the Cardinals taking the first two games of the series, the Cubs' NL Central lead is now down to just 2.5 games. St. Louis is currently tied with the Milwaukee Brewers for the final NL Wild Card spot.

First pitch for game three of the series between the Cardinals and Cubs is scheduled for 6:45 p.m. CST Wednesday at Busch Stadium.