Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong addresses extension-talk reports, hits two home runs vs. Dodgers (2025)

LOS ANGELES — It was the first pitch in the strike zone that Pete Crow-Armstrong saw Sunday, and he blasted it off the right-field foul pole in the third inning for a game-tying solo shot, his first home run of the season.

But he wasn’t done in the Cubs’ 4-2 victory against the Dodgers in his hometown and with his parents and friends in the stands.

Crow-Armstrong launched a go-ahead home run into the right-field stands in the seventh inning for the second multihomer game of his career. Then he hit a triple to lead off the ninth.

It was only hours earlier that Crow-Armstrong had addressed swirling rumors about a declined extension offer from the Cubs.

“Communication has been really great throughout all levels of this conversation,” Crow-Armstrong said. “But there’s been a general understanding and a general consensus that we’re not going to let it be a distraction throughout this year.”

Sources confirmed Saturday that the Cubs and Crow-Armstrong’s representatives have had extension discussions, as first reported by MLB.com, while denying the accuracy of the reported offer figure.

They specified that those talks took place this spring, but the sides did not come to an agreement. While negotiations were not ongoing as of this weekend, the parties left the table on amicable terms and could at some point resume discussions.

Putting aside potential contract details, Crow-Armstrong said extending his time in the organization is something he’d “absolutely love to do.”

“And [general manager] Carter [Hawkins] and [president of baseball operations] Jed [Hoyer] know that,” Crow-Armstrong said. “That’s been a part of the good round of communication we got. I would obviously love to do it here. So it’s all just a big ol’ compliment. They’ve been nothing but really complimentary of who I am and what I mean to the organization. But that goes both ways, and I’ve appreciated them both throughout this whole situation.”

With Crow-Armstrong elevating the Cubs’ defense in center field and continuing to adapt on offense, an extension past his pre-arbitration and arbitration years would also make sense for the Cubs. Crow-Armstrong is under club control through 2030.

“I think it’s clear that I want to win baseball games here, specifically,” Crow-Armstrong said. “So I’m glad that they see that and see that in me. It means a lot.”

Kelly exits

Catcher Carson Kelly exited the game with a bruised left hand and was replaced by Miguel Amaya in the sixth inning.

In Kelly’s last at-bat, he was hit in the hand by a 94 mph sinker in the fifth inning. After being examined by trainer Nick Frangella, Kelly remained in the game to run the bases.

Going into the game, Kelly led the Cubs in a host of offensive categories, including batting average (.417), on-base percentage (.571) and slugging percentage (1.042).

Suzuki update

Designated hitter Seiya Suzuki was out of the lineup after leaving the Cubs’ 16-0 win Saturday with pain in his right wrist. Justin Turner took his spot in the lineup. Manager Craig Counsell said Suzuki still is considered day-to-day, and the Cubs don’t plan to have him undergo imaging.

“Nothing’s changed from [Saturday] night,” Counsell said.