CHICAGO — The boos echoed from the Wrigley Field crowd of 30,369 when Chicago Cubs starter Shota Imanaga was pulled after seven no-hit innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday. The Cubs held an 11-run lead and Imanaga’s pitch count (95) had escalated from the three errors committed by third baseman Isaac Paredes. Cubs manager Craig Counsell handed the game over to his bullpen, trying to get the 18th no-hitter in franchise history.
Nate Pearson and Porter Hodge smoothly handled the final six outs of a 12-0 victory, setting off a celebration at the Friendly Confines.
Sing it extra loud, Chicago. pic.twitter.com/7cR799dXAL
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 5, 2024
The Chicago Cubs needed Imanaga to shrink the assimilation period and stay ahead of a steep learning curve. For his new team to stay in the playoff race, Imanaga had to immediately produce at an All-Star level, build relationships inside a big organization and trust his vast experiences in Japan. Within this up-and-down season for Chicago, Imanaga’s performance has been magical.
That combination of determination, creativity and style is a major reason why the Cubs can’t yet give up on contending for the playoffs this year. You never know what might happen when Imanaga steps onto the mound and “Chelsea Dagger,” the bouncing goal song for the Chicago Blackhwaks, starts blasting from the Wrigley Field sound system.
On Wednesday, he held the Pirates to two walks and struck out seven while facing 25 batters.
The team’s last no-hitter was a combined effort as four pitchers — Zach Davies, Ryan Tepera, Andrew Chafin and Craig Kimbrel — accomplished the feat on June 24, 2021, at Dodger Stadium. Milt Pappas was the last Cubs pitcher to throw a no-hitter at Wrigley Field, walking a batter with two outs in the ninth inning to end a perfect game in 1972.
(Photo of Shota Imanaga reacting to a strikeout on Wednesday: Quinn Harris / Getty Images)
