Pete Crow-Armstrong Powers Cubs to Wild Sweep of Struggling Dodgers

Pete Crow-Armstrong homered twice and drove in four runs as the Chicago Cubs swept the reeling Los Angeles Dodgers with a dramatic 7-6 victory at Wrigley Field on Wednesday, extending the two-time defending World Series champions' losing streak to six games.

The 22-year-old center fielder, engaged in a heated two-man race with Shohei Ohtani for NL MVP honors, answered the Dodgers superstar homer-for-homer before delivering the knockout blow with a two-run blast off the right-field videoboard in the fourth inning. His 26th home run of the season gave Chicago a 5-1 lead and capped a dominant performance that included an RBI double in the second.

Nico Hoerner added three hits for the Cubs, who improved to 32-15 since June 11 and strengthened their grip on the top wild-card spot in the National League. The victory marked Chicago's fourth win in five games as the team continues its second-half surge.

Dodgers Collapse Reaches Crisis Point

Los Angeles now finds itself in unfamiliar territory. The Dodgers were swept for the second consecutive series and have lost six straight games for the first time since a seven-game skid in July 2025. Despite leading the NL West, the defending champions appear to be spiraling at the worst possible time.

Ohtani did everything he could to keep the Dodgers competitive, launching two home runs including a two-run shot in the eighth inning that pulled Los Angeles within one. His 26th homer of the season matched Crow-Armstrong's total, underscoring the neck-and-neck MVP race between the two young stars.

Max Muncy connected for a three-run homer as part of a five-run eighth-inning rally, and Mookie Betts broke out of a prolonged slump with four hits after batting just .167 in his previous 25 games. But the late fireworks weren't enough to overcome Crow-Armstrong's early dominance.

Imanaga Outduels Lauer

Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga improved to 8-9 by scattering eight hits over five innings of one-run ball. The Japanese import struck out six and walked none, keeping the Dodgers' potent lineup largely in check until his departure.

Eric Lauer took the loss for Los Angeles, falling to 6-6 after surrendering five runs. The Dodgers left-hander had no answer for Chicago's early offensive barrage, particularly Crow-Armstrong's power display.

The game featured a tense moment in the fifth inning when Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman was hit on the side of his right hand by a foul ball. X-rays came back negative, and Freeman said he was OK, providing rare good news for a team searching for answers.

Cubs Close Out Sweep

Los Angeles mounted one final charge in the eighth inning after Ohtani's two-run homer cut Chicago's lead to one. With a runner on second and the tying run in scoring position, Kiké Hernández struck out swinging to end the threat.

Jacob Webb slammed the door with a perfect ninth inning to earn his sixth save and complete the sweep. Chicago's bullpen held firm despite the late rally, preserving a crucial victory in the wild-card race.

The Dodgers will look to end their tailspin Friday night when right-hander Roki Sasaki takes the mound in Arizona. Meanwhile, the Cubs will host Toronto on Thursday in a makeup game from a June 21 rainout, with left-hander David Peterson facing Blue Jays ace Dylan Cease.

For Crow-Armstrong, the performance solidified his status as a legitimate MVP candidate and announced his arrival as one of baseball's brightest young stars. His four-RBI night proved the difference in a wild game that showcased both the Cubs' surging confidence and the Dodgers' growing desperation.