Bowden Francis throws 7 scoreless innings as Blue Jays shut out Cubs 1-0

CHICAGO (AP) — Joey Loperfido homered and Bowden Francis threw seven scoreless innings to help the Toronto Blue Jays shut out the Cubs 1-0 on Sunday.

Loperfido’s solo shot off Shota Imanaga (9-3) was all Toronto needed to end a two-game skid.

Francis (6-3) matched his longest career outing, set six days earlier against the Los Angeles Angels.

He was perfect the first time through the order but loaded the bases in the fourth. He escaped the jam by catching Dansby Swanson looking at a third strike. The right-hander allowed just one other baserunner the rest of the way and finished with three hits and seven strikeouts while walking none to win for the fourth time in six starts.

Chad Green, the last of three Blue Jays relievers, worked the ninth to secure the shutout and record his 13th save in as many chances.

Imanaga allowed four hits, walked one and struck out six in the first five innings. It was his first loss since June 21, a span of nine starts.

The crowd of 36,117 gave its loudest ovation to former Chicago Bears kicker Robbie Gould, who led the seventh-inning singalong with his children.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Blue Jays: SS Leo Jiménez got a day off after leaving Saturday’s game with right knee soreness.

Cubs: DH Seiya Suzuki took an Isaac Paredes foul ball off his shin while standing in the on-deck circle in the eighth but walked it off and remained in the lineup … LHP Jordan Wicks ( right oblique strain ) will start Tuesday for Triple-A Iowa and make at least one more rehab start before the club decides when to bring him back. He’s been on the 60-day injured list since June 15.

UP NEXT

Toronto will send RHP Kevin Gausman (11-8, 4.20 ERA) to the mound Monday night against visiting Cincinnati.

Cubs RHP Javier Assad (5-3, 3.19) is scheduled to open a three-game series against visiting Detroit on Tuesday night.

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Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Bowden Francis throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

Chicago Cubs' Dansby Swanson, left, throws to first base for an out during the third inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. grounds out during the third inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. falls as he throws out Chicago Cubs' Miguel Amaya at first base during the eighth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

Chicago Cubs' Nico Hoerner, left, reacts after hitting a double during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

Chicago Cubs' Shota Imanaga flips the ball to first base for an out during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

Toronto Blue Jays' Addison Barger, right, throws to first base during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. makes a catch during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong pops out to Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Génesis Cabrera reacts after striking out Chicago Cubs' Isaac Paredes during the eighth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Bowden Francis throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Sunday, Aug. 18, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Melissa Tamez)

Norfolk Southern said Wednesday it has fired CEO Alan Shaw for having an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate.

His ouster comes after two difficult years in the top job and just days after the company’s board announced it was investigating him for alleged ethical lapses.

The Atlanta-based railroad said Shaw had an inappropriate consensual relationship with Norfolk Southern's chief legal officer, who was also terminated. Norfolk Southern promoted Chief Financial Officer Mark George to be the railroad's next CEO.

Shaw was leading Norfolk Southern in February 2023 when one of its trains derailed, spilled toxic chemicals and caught fire in East Palestine, Ohio, the worst railroad disaster in the last decade. Then, activist investor Ancora Holdings tried to take control of the railroad earlier this year and fire Shaw.

He weathered congressional hearings and difficult community meetings after the East Palestine derailment, while promising to make Norfolk Southern the “gold standard for safety” in the industry. He also managed to persuade investors not to back the majority of Ancora’s board nominees. Three of its nominees did win seats on the railroad’s board, but that wasn’t enough to give it control.

The derailment near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border prompted the nation to re-examine railroad safety and led lawmakers and regulators to call for reforms. But those proposals have largely stalled, and the industry has made only minimal changes since the derailment, such as installing more trackside detectors to spot overheating bearings like the one that caused the East Palestine crash.

The disappointing financial results Norfolk Southern delivered after the derailment, combined with questions about Shaw’s strategy of keeping more workers on hand during a downturn, made the railroad ripe for pressure from an investor like Ancora. Norfolk Southern's profits have consistently lagged behind the other major railroads that more aggressively adopted the lean operating model that has become the industry standard.

The railroad said Shaw’s firing was unrelated to Norfolk Southern’s financial performance, and the board reaffirmed its financial guidance. The railroad has said it expects to improve productivity by about $550 million and boost its profit margin over the next two years.

Shaw received $13.4 million compensation last year in his first full year as CEO. The railroad said earlier this year that Shaw would be entitled to nearly $9.6 million in retirement compensation if he left the company. It wasn’t immediately clear how being fired for cause will affect the $2.3 million severance pay Norfolk Southern had previously promised him. More details on his final compensation are expected to be disclosed Thursday.

The railroad's Chairman Claude Mongeau said, “The Board has full confidence in Mark and his ability to continue delivering on our commitments to shareholders and other stakeholders” despite having only worked on the railroad since 2019. Previously, George was CFO for air conditioning maker Carrier Corporation and Otis Elevator Company.

Mongeau said George will work with John Orr — the chief operating officer hired during its fight with Ancora — to continue improving the railroad's profits by cutting costs and getting more efficient.

“I look forward to my continued partnership with John and the entire (Norfolk Southern) team as we further our progress on optimizing operations and serving our customers, while creating a safe and satisfying workplace and delivering enhanced value for our employees, customers, shareholders, and communities,” George said in a statement.

Norfolk Southern is one of the six largest railroads in North America with tracks crisscrossing the Eastern United States.

FILE - Norfolk Southern Railroad CEO Alan Shaw speaks during an interview Wednesday, June 21, 2023, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)