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

LOS ANGELES – The first pitch in the strike zone that Pete Crow-Armstrong saw on Sunday, he pummeled off the right-field foul pole for a game-tying solo shot, his first home run of the season.

But he wasn’t done, en route to a Cubs 4-2 victory against the Dodgers in Crow-Armstrong's hometown, 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 to clinch the second multi-homer 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 to the Sun-Times on 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 Carter and Jed know that,” Crow-Armstrong said of general manager Carter Hawkins and president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer. “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.”

With the win Sunday at Dodger Stadium, the Cubs claimed a 2-1 series victory.

"They're arguably be the best team in the game, from top to bottom," Crow-Armstrong said of the Dodgers. "And I don't want to say we're rising to the occasion, because I have full confidence that we are just that as well. But coming in here and and taking them down for two out of three is, is great. That's what we come in here to do — especially after dropping game one. ... Being able to come back the next two days and do what we did, that's huge boost for us going into San Diego, for sure."

Kelly exits

Cubs catcher Carson Kelly exited the game Sunday with a bruised left hand, according to the team, replaced on defense by Miguel Amaya in the sixth inning. Manager Craig Counsell said X-rays came back negative.

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 head athletic trainer Nick Frangella, Kelly remained in the game to run the bases.

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

Suzuki update

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

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