It took a team effort in order to complete the 18th no-hitter in Chicago Cubs history.
Shota Imanaga went seven innings before relievers Nate Pearson and Porter Hodge sealed the deal in the Cubs’ 12-0 win over the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night.
It was the first no-hitter by the Cubs at Wrigley Field since 1972, a streak that covered 4,147 games. That’s good for the second-longest in MLB history. Coincidentally, the Pirates hold the record of 4,773 games without a no-hitter in their ballpark (Forbes Field, 1909-1970).
This was the fourth no-hitter and the first combined no-no of the 2024 season.
Imanaga, who was removed after throwing 95 pitches, allowed no hits, no runs, and two walks with seven strikeouts. He continues to impress during his rookie season in the majors, improving to 12-3 and lowering his earned run average to 2.99.
Chicago’s offense gave him plenty of help as the Cubs mauled Pirates pitching to the tune of 17 hits, including three home runs.
So far, the Cubs have gotten a tremendous return on their four-year, $53 million investment in the Japanese hurler.
In May, Imanaga set a record for the lowest ERA through a pitcher’s first nine career starts (0.84). The Cubs are 20-6 in his 26 starts and he has allowed more than three runs in a game only three times all season.
Imanaga was named to the National League All-Star team in July, and since then he has helped lead Chicago’s resurgence in the Wild Card race. In his 10 starts after the break, the Cubs are 8-2. With their latest victory, Chicago remains 4.5 games back of the Atlanta Braves for the final spot in the postseason.
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