One for the fans: Cubs credit crowd energy for getting past Padres, advance to face Brewers
Pete Crow-Armstrong didn't exactly promise a gift for Cubs fans on Thursday, he was mostly expressing appreciation when he spoke before Game 3 of the wild-card series against San Diego.
“We owe more playoff baseball to this fan base for sure,” Crow-Armstrong said. “Hopefully we just use that energy today to our advantage.”
A few hours later, a flyball hit by San Diego catcher Freddy Fermin landed in PCA's glove in medium center field and the mission was accomplished. The Cubs beat the Padres 3-1 to clinch the series at Wrigley Field.
“We owe everything to those people coming out and showing up every day,” Crow-Armstrong said after the game, between frequent beer showers given by teammates. “They're just as much a part of this as the people in this clubhouse. I'm definitely somebody that feeds off my 'Bleacher Creatures.'”
The Cubs advance to the best-of-five divisional round to face manager Craig Counsell's old team, the Brewers, beginning at 1:08 p.m. Saturday in Milwaukee. The National League playoffs will take Sunday off, so Game 2 is at 8:08 p.m. at American Family Field, with the series shifting to Wrigley next Wednesday and Thursday, if necessary.
“Well, they're going to be fired up,” Counsell said of the Brewers. “They've had the best team in baseball this year. They feel like they have a chance to play in the World Series. They're rested. So it's going to be a great atmosphere.”
For years, Cubs vs. Brewers has been a fun rivalry, especially in Milwaukee, where Cubs fans tend to show up in large numbers. This will be the first time the teams have met in the actual playoffs. When Counsell managed the Brewers, they did beat the Cubs in an extra game to decide the 2018 NL Central title.
“It's Cubs-Brewers, it's going to be as good as it gets,” Counsell added. “We'll try to get as many Cubs fans in there as we can. They won't like that, but it's going to be a fun atmosphere, I know that.”
The Cubs outhit the Padres 13-7 in Game 3 but had trouble pulling away, thanks to eight runners left on base. They scored twice in the second inning on an RBI single by Crow-Armstrong and bases-loaded walk to Dansby Swanson. They should have put more runs on the scoreboard, since there was still nobody out after Swanson's walk.
It stayed 2-0 until Michael Busch sent a home run into the right-field beachers leading off the seventh inning.
In the ninth, San Diego finally got on the board with a leadoff homer by Jackson Merrill against Brad Keller. Keller, who also pitched the eighth inning, got a strikeout, then hit two batters in a row.
That brought Andrew Kittredge to the mound for the third straight game. He retired Jake Cronenworth on a bouncer to third, thanks to a nice play by Matt Shaw. Then with the tying runs in scoring position, Crow-Armstrong caught the flyball to end it, then paused to acknowledge the fans.
“Being able to turn around every day for 81 games and actually see people's faces and kind of see what they're feeling and hear things they're saying,” PCA said, “I really do believe I have a relationship with every single one of them. So it was only right that I shared that with them for a second.”
Padres manager Mike Shildt credited shortstop Dansby Swanson's defense for being the difference in the series. This game was filled with challenging groundballs that beat runners at first base by less than a step.
“I don't think they give an MVP for this round,” Shildt said. “I'd give it to Swanson. I mean, Dansby played his tail off, man. He almost single-handedly beat us with his glove.”
Asked about the comment, Swanson explained it's all part of his joy for the game.
“These moments never get old,” Swanson said. “Being able to compete on a stage like this is literally the most fun you'll ever have in your life.”