CHICAGO – The Cubs are used to playing in front of a packed house and in Wrigley Field’s rowdy environment, but after witnessing the atmosphere only a few days into Chicago’s October journey, center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong said he had not realized it could get even wilder.
“We owe more playoff baseball to this fan base, for sure,” Crow-Armstrong said in the hours leading up to Game 3 of the National League Wild Card Series.
Crow-Armstrong then helped deliver on that declaration, playing a crucial role in a 3-1 victory over the Padres that punched the Cubs’ ticket to the NL Division Series. He did his thing in center — making the kind of sliding grab that defies Statcast — and delivered a clutch hit to put the North Siders on a path to flying the “W” flag atop the old scoreboard.
Between Crow-Armstrong showing up in a big way in the win-or-go-home game at the Friendly Confines, and a tone-setting start from Jameson Taillon on a day the defense shined, the Cubs secured their first postseason series win since 2017. The Cubs were able to party after a clinching win at home for the first time since winning the pennant in ‘16.
Now, the Cubs have a date with the rival Brewers, who won the NL Central and earned the bye to the Division Series round. Roughly 90 miles separate Wrigley Field and American Family Field, but this will mark the first time the clubs square off in a playoff setting.
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