CHICAGO (AP) — Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong is having a difficult week.
Crow-Armstrong made an ugly defensive mistake for the second straight day on Wednesday night against the Milwaukee Brewers. He also had a heated exchange with a fan during Sunday's 9-8 loss to the crosstown Chicago White Sox.
Milwaukee had runners on first and second with one out in the second inning of the series finale when David Hamilton hit a liner up the middle. The ball went under Crow-Armstrong's glove and rolled toward the warning track.
Hamilton picked up speed as he rounded first and scored with a headfirst slide, giving the Brewers a 3-0 lead. It was ruled a single for Hamilton and Crow-Armstrong's third error of the season.
Crow-Armstrong also dropped Sal Frelick's leadoff flyball in the fourth during Tuesday's 5-2 loss to the Brewers. Frelick advanced on Hamilton's single, but was stranded when Ben Brown wiggled out of the jam.
The 24-year-old Crow-Armstrong is widely regarded as one of baseball's best defensive outfielders. He won his first Gold Glove last year.
He was playing center on Sunday against the White Sox when he was heckled by a woman after he came up empty on an attempt for a leaping catch. He responded with a vulgar message punctuated by an expletive.
Crow-Armstrong said Monday he regretted his choice of words during the exchange with the fan. He was fined by Major League Baseball, according to a person who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the punishment wasn't announced by the league.
“I’m just bummed out about the word choice, and that a bunch of little kids go and probably find their way to social media and see that as well,” he said.
Crow-Armstrong is one of Chicago’s biggest stars after hitting .247 with a career-high 31 homers and 95 RBIs last season. He agreed to a $115 million, six-year contract in March.
He struck out in each of his first two at-bats Wednesday night. He was batting .229 with five homers, 20 RBIs and 12 steals in 49 games coming into the day.
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Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong reacts after flying out to Milwaukee Brewers left fielder Jackson Chourio during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Monday, May 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
MIAMI (AP) — Austin Riley and Dominic Smith hit three-run home runs, Chris Sale allowed just one run and struck out eight over seven innings, and the Atlanta Braves beat the Miami Marlins 9-1 on Wednesday night.
Ozzie Albies and Michael Harris II singled twice and Ronald Acuña Jr added a base hit for the NL-leading Braves.
Sale (7-3) limited the Marlins to four hits and picked up his seventh win after losing his previous two starts. The 2024 Cy Young winner had not beaten Miami in three career starts entering Wednesday, previously going 0-2 with a 5.30 ERA.
Sale settled in after allowing a leadoff walk to Xavier Edwards — who scored for a 1-0 lead on Heriberto Hernández's sacrifice fly. The left-hander did not allow a hit his final three innings.
Riley gave the Braves a 3-1 lead with a 415-foot drive off Janson Junk's first-pitch sweeper, the third baseman's first hit after starting the series 0 for 8.
Junk (2-5) retired 11 straight after Riley's home run before Acuña's leadoff single in the sixth, followed by consecutive base hits by Harris, Matt Olson and Albies to stretch the lead to 5-1.
Smith put the game out of reach with his 389-foot shot to center that ended a 12-pitch at-bat. Junk was lifted after allowing eight hits and striking out three over five innings.
Smith reached again in the eighth with a drive to center. Esteury Ruiz dropped the ball after a collision with right fielder Owen Caissie, which allowed Smith to reach third. He then raced home on Ruiz's throwing error.
Riley drew the first walk of the game against Tyler Phillips in the eighth.
Pinch-hitter Eli White, who returned Wednesday from concussion protocol, doubled in the ninth against position player Javier Sanoja.
Braves right-hander Spencer Strider (1-0, 2.45 ERA) starts Thursday's series finale against Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara (3-2, 3.53).
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Atlanta Braves' Austin Riley, right, celebrates with third base coach Tommy Watkins (84) after hitting a home run during the second inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)
Miami Marlins right fielder Esteury Ruiz (3) reaches for the home run ball hit by Atlanta Braves' Austin Riley during the second inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)
Atlanta Braves center fielder Michael Harris II catches a fly ball hit by Miami Marlins' Heriberto Hernández, not pictured, during the first inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)
Atlanta Braves' Austin Riley, right, celebrates hitting a home run during the second inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, May 20, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Michael Laughlin)
