Chicago White Sox at Chicago Cubs

CHICAGO – The chants began before the Cubs could even hit play on the hype video ahead of the bottom of the 10th inning on Monday night. The fans inside Wrigley Field already knew who was due to bat and they sent his famous initials echoing through the old ballpark in anticipation of what could come next. Pete Crow-Armstrong did not let them down. “It’s been incredible to watch,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. After getting the crosstown party revved up with a leadoff homer in the first inning, Crow-Armstrong continued to pad his MVP portfolio with a two-run, walk-off blast that sent the place into a frenzy. The Cubs’ electric center fielder delivered a 7-5 win over the White Sox in 10 innings, authoring another classic moment in this rivalry’s long history. As the baseball Crow-Armstrong launched carried over the right-field wall, he turned toward his teammates in the third-base dugout and violently flung his bat away. Crow-Armstrong then enjoyed that trek around the bases -- one that secured a second straight season with 30 homers and 30 steals -- before spiking his helmet around third and running into the pile of Cubs at home plate. What did Crow-Armstrong think about the celebration? “I usually black out during those type of things,” he quipped. “I got a good bat flip in -- I know that.” According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Crow-Armstrong joined Chris Young (Aug. 7, 2010), Ian Kinsler (July 19, 2009), Reed Johnson (June 15, 2003), Darin Erstad (June 25, 2000) and Vic Power (May 7, 1957) as the only players with a leadoff and walk-off homer in the same game. It was the fifth leadoff shot of Crow-Armstrong’s season, but the first walk-off blast of his career.