Pete Crow-Armstrong’s 10th-Inning Homer Lifts Cubs Over White Sox at Wrigley Field

Crosstown crowd fuels playoff-style finish on Chicago’s North Side

CHICAGO — Pete Crow-Armstrong delivered a two-run home run in the 10th inning Monday at Wrigley Field, lifting the Chicago Cubs to a 7-5 victory over the Chicago White Sox in the opening game of the crosstown series.

Crow-Armstrong drove a pitch from White Sox rookie left-hander Hagen Smith into the right-field bleachers, scoring automatic runner Carson Kelly and ending a game marked by repeated momentum swings and a loud, divided crowd. The Cubs center fielder had already made an early impact, leading off the game with a 376-foot homer against Luis Castillo.

The rivalry atmosphere was evident well before the first pitch, with White Sox supporters making their voices heard during introductions and as Sox relievers made their way to the bullpen beneath the right-field bleachers. The game’s intensity underscored a more competitive chapter in the city series after the White Sox endured three straight 100-loss seasons, including their record 121-loss campaign in 2024.

White Sox manager Will Venable, who previously worked as a Cubs coach, said he embraces the significance of the series without carrying personal resentment toward the North Side ballpark. Venable said the Cubs-White Sox matchup is an exciting opportunity and described Wrigley Field as a strong setting for a baseball game, particularly when fans from both sides fill the stands.

"It was a fun game to play," Venable said after the loss. He said the noticeable White Sox presence in the crowd was encouraging, even though the result went to the Cubs.

Venable’s decision in the 10th inning became the game’s defining tactical moment. Rather than intentionally walking Crow-Armstrong, he elected to keep the left-handed hitter in a lefty-lefty matchup against Smith. Crow-Armstrong answered with the decisive drive.

The Cubs struck quickly in the first. After Crow-Armstrong’s leadoff blast, Seiya Suzuki followed by sending Castillo’s fourth pitch 440 feet to center field. Castillo later recovered, allowing the White Sox to stay in the game and their fans to turn the stadium atmosphere increasingly hostile toward the home club.

In the fourth inning, chants of "Let’s go, White Sox!" echoed through Wrigley, and Randal Grichuk gave the visiting supporters another surge with a 404-foot home run to center field. Grichuk previously played for another Cubs rival, the St. Louis Cardinals, from 2014 through 2017.

White Sox right-hander Erick Fedde said the series still carries substantial meaning beyond the standings. Fedde, who was with the club during its difficult 2024 season, said crosstown games had been an opportunity to give supporters something to rally around even when the team was out of postseason contention.

"It’s a playoff-style atmosphere," Fedde said, adding that the White Sox want to play well for their side of Chicago while continuing their push toward the postseason. The teams remain in the midst of their crosstown series, with the Cubs holding a 1-0 edge after Crow-Armstrong’s extra-inning winner.

For schedules, rosters and official team information, fans can visit the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox official websites.