Shota Imanaga, along with two Cubs relievers, delivered an impressive no-hitter performance, propelling the Chicago Cubs to a commanding 12-0 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday night.
Imanaga (12-3), a 31-year-old left-handed pitcher, is making waves in his inaugural season with the Cubs after a successful eight-year stint in Japan. He recorded seven strikeouts and issued two walks over seven innings, showcasing his skill by throwing 66 strikes out of 95 pitches.
Despite needing 25 pitches to navigate the second inning, Imanaga’s efficiency shone through, especially considering his season high of 103 pitches against St. Louis on June 15. Notably, he has yet to record an out in the eighth inning.
In January, Imanaga signed a substantial four-year contract worth $53 million, with the Cubs also paying a $9,825,000 posting fee to Japan’s Yokohama BayStars, underlining their commitment to bringing international talent to Major League Baseball.
Relievers Nate Pearson and Porter Hodge sealed the deal with a flawless eighth and ninth inning, respectively, marking the Cubs’ 18th no-hitter in franchise history. This feat is particularly significant as it is the first no-hitter since a combined effort by Zach Davies, Ryan Tepera, Andrew Chafin, and Craig Kimbrel against the Los Angeles Dodgers on June 24, 2021.
This no-hitter stands as the fourth of the current season, following complete-game performances by Ronel Blanco of the Houston Astros against Toronto on April 1, Dylan Cease of the San Diego Padres at Washington on July 25, and Blake Snell of the San Francisco Giants at Cincinnati on April 2.
