Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga screamed in celebration after striking out Pirates center fielder Michael A. Taylor with an 83.5 mph splitter to end the seventh
inning, stranding two runners and preserving his scoreless outing.
Imanaga was stellar. He walked one and struck out seven while extending his streak of scoreless innings to 12 in the Cubs’ 1-0 victory Saturday. It marked the second time Imanaga had pitched in a 1-0 triumph.
Third baseman Christopher Morel got the walk-off hit in the ninth, driving in center fielder Cody Bellinger, who had reached on a ground-rule double. Bellinger barely beat the throw home from Taylor, and the call withstood a video review.
Imanaga has the lowest ERA (0.84) for a pitcher, excluding openers, in the first nine starts of a career since 1913.
‘‘The numbers . . . I don’t think you expect anyone to do that,’’ Bellinger said. ‘‘But credit to him. The pitch ability is tremendous. The way he approaches hitters, [he’s] extremely intelligent.’’
What Imanaga can do with a fastball that averages 92.1 mph is remarkable. He generated 10 swings-and-misses with the fastball and another 12 with his splitter. His unpredictability keeps hitters off balance.
‘‘There’s just very few balls that feel hittable for the hitter,’’ manager Craig Counsell said. ‘‘You just feel the hitter constantly a little between, and that makes both pitches better.’’
Imanaga has lived up to — and perhaps even surpassed — the best-case scenarios anyone could have for how he would perform.
‘‘We’re fortunate to watch it,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘It’s been so much fun to watch. And just his attitude out there, his pitch-making ability, stuff and competitiveness, they’ve all just been just a joy to watch.’’
‘‘Sho Time’’ was on the marquee outside Wrigley Field before the game, and Imanaga’s starts quickly are becoming appointment viewing. Beyond the strikeout numbers, his ability to give the Cubs innings is valuable as they navigate injuries to the bullpen.
The start was Imanaga’s first on four days of rest. In Nippon Professional Baseball,
Japan’s top league, pitchers work once a week. Despite battling fatigue and not having his best stuff, Imanaga’s outing was a testament to his competitiveness.
It marked the third time he had pitched seven innings. Every other Cubs starter combined has thrown seven innings once.
‘‘The most impressive part is just his understanding of himself,’’ Bellinger said. ‘‘He’s got a game plan. He’s extremely intelligent, and he’s just going out and pitching great games.’’
Imanaga encountered trouble in the fourth. After right fielder Edward Olivares singled, second baseman Nick Gonzales connected on a splitter from Imanaga — a ball that had an expected batting average of .520, according to Baseball Savant — that right fielder Seiya Suzuki caught. It was one of the few hard-hit balls he allowed.
‘‘I try to go out there and be careful of not giving up too many hard hits,’’ Imanaga said through an interpreter. ‘‘But that is the fun part of baseball. The hard hits might be outs, and then the soft hits could be singles. Regarding today, Seiya made a fantastic play.’’
Counsell remembered the Cubs’ 1-0 victory May 1 against the Mets, another seven-inning start by Imanaga. When an opposing pitcher is holding down the offense, Imanaga has proved he’s able to lift the team and give it a chance.
‘‘It’s hard to win 1-0 games,’’ Counsell said. ‘‘That he’s been the starter in both these games nine games into his career is incredible.’’
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