CHICAGO (AP) — The very end of Shota Imanaga's first year in the major leagues looks a lot like the beginning of the season for the Japanese left-hander.
That's a real positive sign for Imanaga and the Chicago Cubs.
Showing no signs of any fatigue, Imanaga earned his sixth consecutive win when he pitched seven innings in a 5-0 victory over the Washington Nationals on Sunday. He allowed six hits, struck out four and walked none.
“He's had a great season,” manager Craig Counsell said. “It's been fabulous. Finishing on a strong note, continuing to pitch super well. Executing as we go, just very, very well. It's been good from start to as we get to the end here.”
The Cubs (80-76) are closing out a disappointing year after beginning the season with playoff aspirations. But Imanaga, 31, has been a bright spot after coming over from Japan. He finalized a $53 million, four-year contract with Chicago in January.
Making a smooth transition to the majors, Imanaga went 5-0 with a sparkling 0.84 ERA in his first nine starts. He has a 2.25 ERA during his current win streak — the longest active run for a major league starter — to go along with 37 strikeouts and eight walks in 40 innings.
“Talking to Craig, talking to my teammates, they really emphasized how important it is to stay healthy, especially in September,” Imanaga said through a translator. “So that was one of the goals of mine, especially back in spring training, just being able to continue to pitch, stay healthy. And I think I was able to do that.”
Imanaga, who is 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA in 173 1/3 innings over 29 starts, made the NL All-Star team and likely will finish in the top five in balloting for NL Rookie of the Year. He likely has one more start left this year, next weekend against Cincinnati at Wrigley Field.
“Look, he's been our best pitcher,” Counsell said. “He's been our best player. There's no question about it. He's just delivered, and he's been a huge boost for us.”
The Cubs are 23-6 when Imanaga takes the mound, and the durability he has shown has not gone unnoticed by his teammates.
“It's his first year over here, so he's still getting used to it,” infielder Michael Busch said. "I don't exactly know kind of what it was like (in Japan), but I know it's a little different just from a starting pitcher's perspective.
“So the fact that he's able to do that and do it so consistently like he has this year has been pretty amazing.”
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Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga, right, of Japan, is congratulated by catcher Miguel Amaya, left, as they walk to the dugout after the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga, of Japan, throws against the Washington Nationals during the first inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
CHICAGO (AP) — Shota Imanaga pitched seven crisp innings in his sixth consecutive win, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Washington Nationals 5-0 on Sunday.
Imanaga (15-3) was backed by home runs from Mike Tauchman, Michael Busch and Miguel Amaya. The Japanese left-hander allowed six hits, struck out four and walked none, continuing his strong finish to his first season in the majors.
“He did a good job with that heater kind of up and away to them,” manager Craig Counsell said. “Pretty simple game plan and he executed it very well.”
The start of the game was delayed for 2 hours, 20 minutes because of rain. The Wrigley Field crowd of 30,086 passed the time by watching much of the Bears' 21-16 loss at Indianapolis on the massive videoboard in left-center.
“Today I kept in mind ... that there is a possibility it might continue to rain and there might be a delay,” Imanaga said through a translator. “So just keeping that in mind and not getting swayed too much with how the environment is around me and just focusing on the game.”
The Cubs (80-76), who were eliminated from playoff contention on Saturday, took three of four in the series. They went 6-1 against the Nationals this season.
James Wood and José Tena each had two of Washington's eight hits. Jake Irvin (10-13) allowed five runs and four hits in four innings.
The Nationals (69-87) closed out a 1-6 trip. They finished their road schedule with a 33-48 record.
“We just couldn't drive in any runs,” manager Dave Martinez said. “The biggest thing is, we got to get better in driving in runs, attacking the strike zone, staying in the strike zone. We just start chasing.”
Tauchman got Chicago off to a fast start when he drove a 2-0 fastball from Irvin off the bottom of the scoreboard in right for a leadoff drive in the first inning. It was Tauchman's seventh homer of the season.
“He steps in there and has that at-bat. I think that just builds some momentum for us,” Busch said, “and kind of just built off of that.”
The Cubs broke it open with three runs in the fourth. Busch led off with his 21st homer, a drive to right on a 2-1 fastball. With Pete Crow-Armstrong aboard after a two-out walk, Amaya went deep for his eighth on the year.
Irvin was coming off a pair of impressive starts, allowing a total of two runs and six hits in 13 1/3 innings.
Washington had its best scoring opportunity in the eighth against Ethan Roberts. With runners on the corners and one out, Joey Gallo sent a pinch-hit liner down the right field line. Umpire Tripp Gibson originally said it was foul, but then changed his mind and ruled it was a ground-rule double.
The Cubs challenged the call and it was overturned. Gallo then struck out swinging and Luis García Jr. bounced to shortstop, ending the inning.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Cubs: LF Ian Happ was scratched with lower back tightness. Counsell said he is day to day.
UP NEXT
Nationals: Following an off day, LHP Mitchell Parker (7-10, 4.44 ERA) starts Tuesday night in the opener of a three-game home series against Kansas City.
Cubs: At Philadelphia on Monday night for the opener of a three-game set against the Phillies. There has been no word on Chicago's rotation for the series.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Fans wait during a rain delay before a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Fans wait during a rain delay before a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Washington Nationals' Keibert Ruiz swings and strikes out on a foul tip during the second inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Washington Nationals' Juan Yepez looks to the field after string out swinging during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Chicago Cubs' Miguel Amaya, right, celebrates with Pete Crow-Armstrong after hitting a two-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch, right, celebrates with third base coach Willie Harris, left, as he rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga, of Japan, throws against the Washington Nationals during the first inning of a baseball game in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga, right, of Japan, is congratulated by catcher Miguel Amaya, left, as they walk to the dugout after the second inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals in Chicago, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
