BITTERSWEET NIGHT IN CHICAGO! Pete Crow-Armstrong finally delivered the breakout moment Cubs fans have been waiting for, showing the kind of spark that could define the next era at Wrigley. But even his rise couldn’t hide the pain of a sixth straight loss — a brutal reminder that one bright star can shine, yet the team still needs answers fast.

Good and bad: Pete Crow-Armstrong breaks out, but Cubs lose sixth straight originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Chicago Cubs walked off the field Friday afternoon hearing boos rain down from Wrigley Field once again after another frustrating loss. Their losing streak reached six games, the offense continued collapsing in key moments, and concern around the team is beginning to grow louder by the day.

But amid all the frustration surrounding Chicago’s latest defeat, Pete Crow-Armstrong gave the Cubs something they desperately needed: hope. Chicago fell 4-2 to the Houston Astros after going 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position and stranding 11 runners on base. The Cubs repeatedly threatened throughout the afternoon but failed to deliver the one hit capable of changing the game.

Crow-Armstrong, however, continued looking more comfortable than ever at the plate. The young center fielder launched a sixth-inning two-run homer into right field to snap Chicago’s 15-inning scoreless drought. The blast traveled a Statcast-projected 406 feet and came off his bat at 104.7 mph, briefly bringing life back into a silent Wrigley crowd.

Pete Crow-Armstrong keeps showing signs of a breakout

Crow-Armstrong’s impact Friday went far beyond the home run itself. Earlier in the game, he drew a walk and aggressively advanced to third base on a pickoff attempt, continuing to flash the energy and instincts that have increasingly made him one of Chicago’s most important players.

More importantly, Cubs manager Craig Counsell openly praised Crow-Armstrong’s development against left-handed pitching after the game.

“His at-bats against left-handed pitching, I agree, they’ve been a step forward,” Counsell said. “Absolutely.”

That might be one of the most important developments happening inside Chicago’s season right now. Crow-Armstrong’s elite defense and speed have never been questioned. The biggest question surrounding his long-term ceiling centered on whether his offense would consistently develop enough for him to become a true franchise cornerstone.

Lately, those answers are starting to arrive. While veteran hitters throughout the lineup continue pressing in big situations, Crow-Armstrong increasingly looks calm, aggressive, and dangerous at the plate.

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Cubs’ offensive collapse keeps wasting opportunities

Unfortunately for Chicago, one breakout performance was not enough to stop the skid. The Cubs loaded the bases with nobody out in the third inning but failed to score after Ian Happ struck out, Seiya Suzuki popped out, and Michael Conforto grounded out. The missed opportunity completely shifted the momentum of the afternoon and produced some of the loudest boos Wrigley Field has heard this season.

Chicago has now scored two runs or fewer eight times during its last 12 games. Afterward, Counsell admitted the offensive struggles are beginning to create a difficult mental challenge for the lineup.

“I think we’ve got to do something different,” Counsell said. “I think there’s some at-bats where it’s starting to feel like confidence is shaken.”

That only makes Crow-Armstrong’s emergence feel even more important moving forward. The Cubs may be spiraling right now, but their young center fielder is beginning to look like one of the few players capable of eventually helping pull them back out.