Imanaga Blankets Twins as Cubs Roll 10‑1

Imanaga’s Shutout Masterclass

Left‑hander Shota Imanaga carried a three‑game losing streak into Sunday’s matchup and turned it into a seven‑inning shutout, striking out nine batters while allowing just six hits and one walk. The victory improved his record to 6‑8 and marked his fourth season‑high seven‑inning blanking, the last coming against the Diamondbacks on May 2. Imanaga left after 99 pitches, handing the Cubs a decisive early lead.

reliever Nico Hoerner provided the offensive spark with a bases‑loaded triple that cleared the bases and brought in four runs. His knock in the third inning gave Chicago a 7‑0 cushion and showcased his ability to deliver in high‑leverage situations. Hoerner’s triple one‑hopped past center‑field defender Luke Keaschall before he scored on a single from Pedro Ramírez.

Bregman’s Dual Contributions

Alex Bregman opened the scoring with a two‑run homer in the first inning, his tenth home run of the season. He later reached on an error by Brooks Lee at third, allowing Seiya Suzuki to score and expand the Cubs’ lead to 10 runs. Bregman’s offensive inconsistency early in the week was erased by the power surge in the opening frame.

Suzuki added a one‑out double off starter Zebby Matthews, who was pulled after three innings having surrendered ten runs—eight of them earned—on nine hits. The Twins’ bullpen could not recover, and the game became a rout after the Cubs plated three more runs in the fourth.

Cubs’ Offensive Explosion

After a quiet second inning, the Cubs broke out with three runs in the third. Pedro Ramírez doubled and scored on a single from Carson Kelly, making it 3‑0. The inning escalated when Michael Busch singled to load the bases, setting up Hoerner’s triple and Ramírez’s subsequent scoring strike.

In the fourth, Pete Crow‑Armstrong led off with a double, Suzuki walked, and Busch singled to cap a five‑run frame. The Cubs’ offensive depth was clear: Crow‑Armstrong, Suzuki, and Busch combined for three hits, with Busch finishing 3‑for‑5. TheHosts were powerless to stem the tide as the Cubs built an 8‑0 advantage before the Twins’ offense could regroup.

Mid‑innings relief by Travis Adams kept the scoring line intact, as he turned a two‑on, no‑out jam into a double play. Hoerner later singled home another run, pushing the final to 10‑1.

Looking Ahead

Monday pits Twins right‑hander Joe Ryan (6‑5, 2.85 ERA) against Guardians starter Tanner Bibee (3‑9, 3.90 ERA) in Cleveland. The Twins will aim to arrest a losing streak while Ryan seeks to build on his solid ERA.

For Chicago, Jameson Taillon (2‑5, 5.19 ERA) takes the mound against the Tigers, with Jack Flaherty (3‑8, 4.48 ERA) scheduled as the Tigers’ starter later in the week. The Cubs hope Taillon can snap his losing skid and match the dominance Imanaga showed on Sunday.