Chicago Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong, a leading contender for the 2025 National League MVP, experienced a rare lapse in focus during a pivotal moment against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 24, 2025, at Wrigley Field. In a stunning defensive miscue, the 23-year-old star forgot the number of outs, allowing Cardinals shortstop Masyn Winn to score from second base on a sacrifice fly, costing the Cubs two crucial runs in a 4-2 defeat. The blunder, which sparked widespread discussion on social media, highlighted the human side of an otherwise stellar season for the Cubs’ dynamic outfielder, who continues to electrify fans with his power, speed, and defensive prowess.
The incident occurred in the top of the eighth inning with the Cubs clinging to a 2-1 lead. With one out and Winn on second base after a leadoff double, Cardinals first baseman Paul Goldschmidt hit a deep fly ball off Cubs reliever Drew Smyly. Crow-Armstrong, renowned for his Gold Glove-caliber defense, made a routine catch in center field but appeared to believe there were two outs. Instead of firing the ball to the plate or third base to hold Winn, he casually tossed it toward the infield, giving Winn the chance to tag up and sprint home unchallenged. The run gave St. Louis a 3-2 lead, and they added another to secure the 4-2 victory.
As Yahoo Sports reported, “Masyn Winn scored one of the wildest runs of 2025 on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs, running from second to home on a sacrifice fly from Alec Burleson. He was aided by a flub from Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong, who appeared to forget the number of outs and waited precious seconds before throwing the ball back to the infield.” The play drew immediate reactions on X, with one user posting, “Watch as #Cubs CF Pete Crow-Armstrong loses track of outs, letting a Cards run score. Inexcusable.”
Crow-Armstrong owned up to the mistake postgame, saying, “I just lost track of the outs. I thought there were two, and I didn’t even think to look at the runner. It’s on me, and it won’t happen again.” His candor resonated with fans, though the error proved costly in a tight NL Central race.
Despite the blunder, Crow-Armstrong’s 2025 season has been nothing short of spectacular. The former first-round pick, acquired from the New York Mets in the 2021 Javier Báez trade, has emerged as a five-tool superstar. Through 78 games, he’s slashing .270/.307/.550 with 20 home runs, 60 RBIs, and 23 stolen bases, leading the NL with a 4.5 WAR. His historic pace made him the fastest Cubs player to reach the 20-20 (home runs and stolen bases) milestone, surpassing Sammy Sosa’s record in just 73 games.
Crow-Armstrong’s defensive wizardry has also shone, with 12 Outs Above Average, second only to Bobby Witt Jr. in MLB. Cubs starter Ben Brown summed up his impact: “Every game he plays is like two games for a normal person, just with how hard he plays.” His energy has earned him the nickname “PCA” and chants of “M-V-P! M-V-P!” from Wrigley’s faithful, who see him as a cornerstone of Chicago’s resurgence.
Manager Craig Counsell, who rarely indulges in hyperbole, praised his center fielder: “He’s playing at as high a level as I’ve seen a center fielder play.” Yet, Counsell acknowledged the mistake, saying, “It’s a tough one. Pete’s been phenomenal for us. He made a mistake, but he’s human. He’ll learn from it.” The play didn’t erase Crow-Armstrong’s MVP candidacy, but it was a reminder that even stars can falter in high-pressure moments.
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The loss dropped the Cubs to 42-37, narrowing their lead over the Cardinals (44-34) in the NL Central. The game was a pitcher’s duel, with Shota Imanaga tossing six innings of one-run ball for Chicago and Sonny Gray matching him with seven strong frames for St. Louis. Crow-Armstrong’s error proved decisive, as the Cubs’ offense couldn’t rally against Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley in the ninth. The defeat highlighted the fine margins in a division race where every run matters.
Fans and analysts on X were quick to react, with some defending Crow-Armstrong’s overall brilliance while others criticized the lapse. One post read, “Pete Crow-Armstrong’s slip-up: proof that even the best can have a bad inning.” The play also sparked debate about mental errors in crunch time, with comparisons to similar miscues, like Endy Chávez scoring from second on a sac fly in 2006 due to a defensive lapse.
As the Cubs continue their series against the Cardinals on June 25, 2025, at 8:05 p.m. ET (broadcast on Marquee Sports Network and Bally Sports Midwest), all eyes will be on Crow-Armstrong. Can he rebound with a highlight-reel catch or a clutch hit to silence critics? His MVP candidacy remains strong, with ESPN BET projecting him as a contender for a historic 40-40 season, a feat no Cub has ever achieved.