Crow-Armstrong, Cubs upset by missed balk call in shutout loss

PHOENIX – A botched call played a key role in the Cubs’ rubber match against the D-backs ending on a sour note.

Things weren’t any sweeter after the game.

The Cubs lost 2-0 to the Diamondbacks at Chase Field on Wednesday, despite Matthew Boyd’s dazzling performance. Arizona’s Eduardo Rodriguez was even better, though, as the two veteran left-handers traded haymakers throughout the game.

What doesn’t show up in the box score, though, is what ultimately stole the show.

Unable to muster any runs against Rodriguez, Chicago’s best scoring chance came with Pete Crow-Armstrong on third base in the top of the sixth. The 24-year-old broke for home prior to Rodriguez’s 2-1 pitch to Michael Busch, and though the pitcher appeared to step off the rubber during his windup, umpires did not call a balk.

The non-call was not reviewable, and Nico Hoerner struck after Busch walked to strand Crow-Armstrong at third. Arizona’s Jordan Lawlar homered in the bottom half of the inning, which put Arizona in the lead for good.

Crew chief Alfonso Márquez, who was behind home plate Wednesday, confirmed after the game that a balk should have been called. Crow-Armstrong, along with Cubs manager Craig Counsell and third base coach Quintin Berry, pleaded their case to the umpires, to no avail.

“We just didn’t see it,” Márquez said, adding any of the four umpires could have called the balk. “After looking at the video, it looked like he stepped off.”

Had a balk been called, Crow-Armstrong would have scored to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead. The after-the-fact admission was little consolation for the outfielder, who was fuming after the umpires upheld their original non-call.

“I saw four umpires miss a pretty obvious play,” Crow-Armstrong said. “They're out there every day, just like we are. Their one job is to get calls right, and if they get it wrong, they're supposed to talk about it, figure it out, and get it right. And they didn't.”

Crow-Armstrong called out a balk that went against the Cubs last week – against Boyd – which ultimately resulted in Counsell’s ejection. No one was ejected Wednesday, but tempers flared as Crow-Armstrong insisted Rodriguez stepped off.

"I don't know how you miss somebody starting their motion, and then stopping it and stepping off,” Crow-Armstrong said. “I just don't know."

Counsell lamented how such a call would be difficult for the umpires at home plate or second base to make. He was less forgiving for the umps at first and third.

“They flat-out missed it,” Counsell said. “It's obvious to everybody on TV. It's obvious to anybody. They missed it.”

Boyd was brilliant, scattering three hits over six innings while striking out five. The 35-year-old was as effective as he’s been all season, and Wednesday’s game was his strongest showing since tossing seven scoreless innings against the Cardinals on July 29.

The Cubs are 8-4 in games Boyd has started since returning from the injured list on June 25. Chicago starting pitchers allowed just one earned run in 20 innings over three games against Arizona.

“More often than not, we've been on the other end of those one-run situations this year,” Boyd said. “Sometimes that's what happens, and we'll keep playing our game. We're playing good baseball right now.”

A return home is coming at the best possible time for the Cubs, though the task at hand doesn’t get any easier with the Reds (Aug. 28-30) and Brewers (Aug. 31-Sept. 3) rolling into town.

September is quickly approaching, and the Cubs have major business to take care of with a two-game lead for the top NL Wild Card spot.

“Road trips are tough in August, and the whole month of August is a grind,” Crow-Armstrong said. “We're all just trying to keep our heads above water.”