CHICAGO — Pete Crow-Armstrong is 23 years old, but on Friday the speedy Cubs center fielder turned a record-setting 30-something.
Crow-Armstrong hit his 30th homer in Chicago’s 12-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals, making him the first player in franchise history to hit 30 home runs, steal 30 bases and hit 30 doubles in a season, and the record sixth player in the majors this season with 30 homers and 30 steals.
The left-handed-hitting All-Star joined Sammy Sosa as the second Cub to hit 30 homers and steal 30 bases. Sosa did it in 1993 and 1995.
Crow-Armstrong, in his third major league third season, seemed to still be processing the feat after the win.
“I think it just means that I’ve improved over the last few years,” he said. “I think that’s what I’m selfishly most proud of is, in my own development, is just seeing a bit of a progression each year that I’ve been playing pro ball.”
“I would just say a nice culmination of some years and many more to come.”
Crow-Armstrong hit a high curve from Miles Mikolas 396 feet into the right-center bleachers for a two-run shot that gave Chicago a 3-0 lead with two outs in the fourth.
The outfielder also has 35 stolen bases and 37 doubles. But his drive Friday was just his second homer in his past 29 games and third in his past 55.
Crow-Armstrong has slumped at the plate in the second half, even as his defensive play has sparkled. His batting average was .273 on Aug. 1, but has slipped to .245.
“Yeah, it’s been a tale of two halves, for sure,” Crow-Armstrong said. “But yeah, it’s being able to go home and be honest with myself and analyzing how the second half has been.”
Chicago’s second victory in eight games reduced its magic number to clinch the top NL wild card — and home-field advantage — to one over San Diego. The teams will meet in the opening round starting next Tuesday.
“Whatever the stats are, I just want to go play playoff baseball at this point,” Crow-Armstrong said. “[Rather] than talk about other stuff honestly, I just want to win more ballgames.”
But 30 is a big number. Even for the fan who brought Crow-Armstrong’s home run ball back to him in exchange for an in-person meeting outside the clubhouse and a cache of souvenirs.
“The guy who got it, it was his first Cub game in, he said like 30 years,” Crow-Armstrong said. “So that was neat.”
Tulane coach Jon Sumrall has emerged as the clear favorite to be the next head coach of the Florida Gators, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Florida turned its attention away from Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin earlier this week after getting the sense through irregular communication that he is interested in other options, likely a move to LSU or remaining with the Rebels, sources told ESPN on Friday.
Sumrall is expected to make a decision on his future by Sunday morning as he considers staying at Tulane or a move to Gainesville. He also received significant interest from Auburn, but the Tigers have since shifted their focus to other candidates, another indicator that Florida looms as the clear leader for Sumrall’s services, sources said.
Sumrall, a former SEC player at Kentucky, where he later served as an assistant coach and co-defensive coordinator, is 18-7 in two seasons at Tulane. He also won back-to-back Sun Belt titles as head coach at Troy in 2022 and 2023.
Sumrall, 43, garnered outside interest after his first season with Tulane, earning a contract extension after just one season at the helm.
Tulane (9-2) hosts Charlotte on Saturday night in its regular-season finale. The Green Wave can clinch a spot in the American Conference championship game against North Texas with a win over the 49ers.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Julian Sayin threw three touchdown passes, including a 35-yarder to Jeremiah Smith on a fourth down in the second quarter, and No. 1 Ohio State beat No. 15 Michigan 27-9 in a dominant performance on Saturday.
The defending national champion Buckeyes (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten, No. 1 CFP) likely earned a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff. They can keep their top seed with a win against No. 2 Indiana (12-0, 9-0, No. 2 CFP) in the conference championship game Saturday night in Indianapolis.
Ryan Day should sleep well, a year after losing The Game when his team was favored by about three touchdowns. The upset extended his losing streak in the series to four games and sparked speculation he might also lose his job.
The Wolverines (9-3, 7-2) started strong with two field goals and an interception on the first three possessions of the game, but couldn’t generate pressure when Ohio State wanted to pass.
After throwing an interception on his second snap, redshirt freshman Sayin took advantage of the time and space he had to throw.
Sayin was 6 of 6 for 68 yards with two touchdowns on third and fourth down in the first half, including a 4-yard throw to Brandon Inniss with 16 seconds left that made it 17-9 at the break. He finished 19 of 26 for 233 yards and threw for at least three touchdowns for the sixth time this season.
Rivalry Week has already seen one upset that will affect a conference championship and College Football Playoff seeding. Could we see another one?
On Friday, Texasupset the Texas A&M Aggies to give A&M its first loss of the season and knock the Aggies out of the SEC championship game. Michigan is in a strikingly similar position. Ohio State is undefeated and No. 1 in the CFP rankings. It needs a win to set up a meeting with Indiana in next week’s Big Ten title game.
OSU has been largely unchallenged since defeating Texas in Week 1, and now it faces its biggest rival, which is hasn’t beaten in four years. Can the Wolverines pull another upset? It’s “The Game,” and we’re tracking the top moments and biggest plays: