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July 24, 2026 · Extra-Inning Win · Pirates Series Opener

One Game Closer: PCA's 375-Foot Swing Keeps Cubs Alive in Extras

The Cubs needed progress in Pittsburgh. Pete Crow-Armstrong's 375-foot homer tied the game in the sixth, Dansby Swanson and Seiya Suzuki delivered in the tenth, Gavin Hollowell closed it, and Chicago beat the Pirates 3-2 while Milwaukee lost.
Final
CHC 3 · PIT 2
10 innings
PCA HR
375 FT
Game-tying blast
NL Central
6 GB
One game closer
Save
Hollowell
First save
The Core StoryThis is exactly what creeping back looks like. The Cubs were trailing 1-0 when Pete Crow-Armstrong launched a 375-foot home run to right field in the sixth. That swing turned a tight road game into a game the Cubs could steal in extras.
1. PCA changed the nightHis 22nd homer traveled 375 feet and tied the game 1-1 in the sixth inning.
2. Boyd held the lineMatthew Boyd allowed one run over seven innings and escaped the bases-loaded fifth with limited damage.
3. The 10th delivered progressSwanson singled home Ian Happ, Suzuki walked in Pedro Ramirez, and the Cubs moved to six games back.

PCA Home Run Tracker

375 feet to right field: the sixth-inning swing that tied the game and kept the Cubs alive.
Pete Crow-Armstrong · 6th InningGame-tying solo home run to right fieldHOME PLATERIGHT FIELD375 FT22nd HR of seasonImpact: Pittsburgh led 1-0. PCA's swing made it 1-1 and opened the door for the 10th-inning win.

The Swing That Started The Climb

From down one to tied, then from tied to one game closer in the division race.
Home Run Impact SequenceBefore0-1Cubs trailingPCA HR · 375 FTAfter1-1Game tiedFinal3-2Cubs win6 GBBottom line: Without the 375-foot blast, there is no extra-inning chance to gain ground.

⏱ Visual Timeline Of Key Plays

Bottom 5th
Pittsburgh loaded the bases with no outs and scored on Henry Davis' infield single, but Boyd escaped with only one run allowed.
Top 6th
Pete Crow-Armstrong tied the game with a 375-foot solo home run to right field.
Bottom 7th
Ian Happ threw out Davis at home for an inning-ending double play, preserving the tie.
Top 10th
Dansby Swanson singled home Ian Happ with two outs, and the call was upheld after review.
Top 10th, continuing
Seiya Suzuki drew a bases-loaded walk, scoring Pedro Ramirez for the eventual decisive insurance run.
Bottom 10th
Gavin Hollowell allowed the automatic runner to score on a groundout but closed the 3-2 win for his first save.

🎯 Pitching Breakdown

Matthew Boyd gave the Cubs seven innings of one-run baseball, Jacob Webb handled the eighth, Caleb Thielbar worked a clean ninth, and Hollowell closed it under automatic-runner pressure.

PitcherIPHERBBKAssessment
Matthew Boyd7.07134Kept the Cubs alive until PCA tied it
Jacob Webb1.01001Clean eighth
Caleb Thielbar1.00001Scoreless ninth, earned the win
Gavin Hollowell1.00000First save, protected the lead in extras

🐻 Offensive Snapshot

The Cubs only had six hits, but they landed the ones that mattered. PCA supplied the swing that changed the game state. Swanson supplied the go-ahead contact. Suzuki supplied the insurance run with patience.

PlayerLine / MomentImpact
Pete Crow-Armstrong2-for-4, HR, RBI, BB375-foot game-tying homer
Dansby SwansonRBI single in 10thGo-ahead hit with two outs
Seiya SuzukiBases-loaded walkDrove in the decisive insurance run
Ian HappRun scored, outfield assistScored go-ahead run and saved one defensively
Matthew Boyd7 IP, 1 ERHeld the game together

Friendly Confines Takeaway

The win started with one swing. The box score says 375 feet. The standings say one game closer. That is why this game mattered: not because it was perfect, but because it transformed a must-progress series opener into a real step forward.

The box score says 375 feet. The standings say one game closer.

Boyd held the line.
PCA launched the turning point.
Swanson delivered late.
Suzuki protected the lead.
Hollowell closed the climb.

The Cubs are one game closer.

May PCA keep turning one swing into momentum.
May the late hits keep landing.
May one-game progress become series progress.
And may the Friendly Confines see six back turn into something closer.

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Sources used for game facts and standings: ESPN/AP recap and box score, FOX Sports game tracker, Bleacher Report game page, Chicago Sports Wire last-game summary, and MLB Cubs scores page for Cubs 3, Pirates 2 and Milwaukee's loss to Colorado on July 24, 2026.