Cubs Rally in Ninth for Walk-Off Win Over Reds as Crow-Armstrong Nearly Thrown Out at Plate

Pete Crow-Armstrong scored the game-tying run in the bottom of the ninth inning during a comeback win for the Chicago Cubs over the visiting Cincinnati Reds on Monday night. The sequence was not without drama.

The Cubs trailed 4-3 entering the frame. Crow-Armstrong led off with a triple. Nico Hoerner followed with one out and hit a fly ball to left field.

One of the fastest players in baseball, Crow-Armstrong ran home on the sacrifice fly and crossed the plate standing up. He should have slid, though, as he was nearly thrown out.

The on-deck hitter, Matt Shaw, was responsible for signaling whether Crow-Armstrong should slide or stand. Crow-Armstrong's dugout reaction suggested Shaw failed to do so properly.

The broadcast showed Crow-Armstrong animatedly confronting Shaw in the dugout. He made clear that Shaw's signaling needed to be more decisive to avoid disaster.

Crow-Armstrong was not disrespectful or excessive with the second-year player. He simply stressed the need for boldness in that spot.

Shaw did not get a chance to bat after the score was tied. Michael Conforto pinch-hit for him instead.

Chicago manager Craig Counsell's decision paid off. Conforto crushed a fastball to left-center for a walk-off home run, securing a 5-4 victory and extending the Cubs' winning streak to six games. It marked Conforto's first homer of the season.

Since April 14, the Cubs have won 16 of their last 19 games. They hold a two-game lead in the National League Central standings.