Pete Crow-Armstrong stars as the Chicago Cubs pound the Detroit Tigers 11-2

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Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong, left, greets Seiya Suzuki, right, after they scored against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 21, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)

Chicago Cubs' Dansby Swanson, right, is safe at home plate as Detroit Tigers catcher Jake Rogers, left takes a late throw during the third inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 21, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks) — Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong, left, greets Seiya Suzuki, right, after they scored against the Detroit Tigers during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 21, 2026, in Chicago. (AP Photo/David Banks)

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10:58 PM on Tuesday, July 21

By TONY ANDRACKI

CHICAGO (AP) — Pete Crow-Armstrong reached five times on two hits and three walks, helping the Chicago Cubs beat Framber Valdez and the Detroit Tigers 11-2 on Tuesday night.

Crow-Armstrong, Seiya Suzuki and Carson Kelly each drove in two runs, and Michael Conforto connected for a two-run homer. Dansby Swanson had two hits and scored three times.

Chicago collected 11 hits while improving to 23-10 in its last 33 games, bouncing back nicely after losing 8-6 in 10 innings in the series opener on Monday night.

Dillon Dingler hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning for Detroit, which had won three of four. The All-Star catcher went deep twice on Monday night.

Valdez (5-7) recorded just two outs in his first start since July 9. It also was the first outing for the left-hander since a stint on the bereavement list following the death of his maternal grandmother.

Crow-Armstrong tripled and scored on Kelly's two-run single in Chicago's six-run first. Crow-Armstrong also forced home a run with a bases-loaded walk before Valdez was replaced by Ty Madden.

It was more than enough for David Peterson (5-7), who pitched 6 2/3 innings of three-hit ball for Chicago. The left-hander struck out four and walked one.

Peterson was acquired in a June 25 trade with the New York Mets. The lefty surrendered 10 runs in his second start with the Cubs, but he has allowed three runs in 17 1/3 innings over his other three starts with his new team.

Crow-Armstrong added an RBI single in the third, and Conforto hit his ninth homer in the fifth against Brenan Hanifee. It was Conforto’s fourth pinch-hit homer of the year, tying Glenallen Hill in 1999 for the most by a Cubs player since at least 1901.

Madden provided a boost for Detroit’s weary bullpen by pitching 3 1/3 innings of one-run ball. Infielder Zach McKinstry and catcher Jake Rogers each got three outs for the Tigers.

Up next

Keider Montero (6-5, 3.22 ERA) starts for Detroit in the series finale on Wednesday night, and fellow right-hander Colin Rea (7-6, 4.74 ERA) pitches for Chicago.

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