Chicago Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga tossed seven no-hit innings against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday, September 4 at Wrigley Field.
Relievers Nate Pearson and Porter Hodge followed by working one inning apiece, retiring the side in order in the eighth and ninth, respectively, as the Cubs completed the 18th no-no in franchise history.
The Cubs defeated the Pirates 12-0 in the 2-hour, 10-minute game.
An unforgettable, shared experience for pitchers Imanaga, Pearson and Hodge and catcher Miguel Amaya, the four men commemorated the occasion by posing for photos after the game.
There have been 21 combined no-hitters in MLB history.
Imanaga expressed gratitude after the game ended.
"I'm grateful to Amaya for calling the pitches and the fielders for their defensive work, and to everyone we brought joy to," Imanaga was quoted as saying by Kyodo News.
Imanaga also praised Amaya for his knowledge of the Pirates hitters, making smart decisions about how to pitch to them.
"Miggy studies the hitters, and there were a few occasions today where there was a specific pitch I wanted to throw, Miggy had a different sign, and I just trusted him and it worked out," Imanaga said through an interpreter, according to MLB.com. "I can't thank him enough."
It was Chicago's first no-hitter at Wrigley Field since Milt Pappas accomplished the feat on September 2, 1972, against the San Diego Padres.
Shota Imanaga Exits the Game with a Huge Lead
Imanaga (12-3), who's in his first MLB season, allowed two walks and struck out seven. He left the game after throwing 95 pitches (66 strikes). The Cubs (72-68) led 11-0 entering the eighth inning.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said the decision to replace Imanaga after seven innings was done as a precautionary move, citing health concerns.
"Look, it's always hard to do in that situation. But you're taking care of Shota," Counsell said, according to MLB.com. "It's not fun to do, but you're prioritizing the player's health, and you don't know what's going to happen moving forward, we want him to stay healthy."
The veteran left-hander threw a season-high 103 pitches on June 15 against the St Louis Cardinals.
What was Imanaga's reaction after Counsell pulled him from the game?
"I didn't realize I hadn't allowed a hit until the manager told me after I pitched the seventh inning," Imanaga said, according to Kyodo News. "The relief pitchers were under more pressure than me as the starter, and they managed to keep our opponents in check."
Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki drove in the game's first run with an RBI single and Imanaga's team jumped out to 7-0 lead in the third inning.
Imanaga Impresses His Teammates
Shortstop Dansby Swanson had the assist on the groundout to first baseman Michael Busch for the final out in the ninth.
After the game, Swanson shared insights on Imanaga's dedication to his craft.
"He goes about his work the same every day, whether he's had a good outing or a bad outing," Swanson said of Imanaga, according to The Associated Press. "He's always wanting to get better, [and] he's always doing the routine that he needs to do to be able to go back out again in five days and be able to pitch well.
The shortstop continued: "He's always prepared. He has his own way of doing things and takes full pride and responsibility to do that."
Successful preparation has led to a strong season for Imanaga.
The former Yokohama DeNA BayStars pitcher made his MLB All-Star debut on July 16 in Arlington, Texas.
Imanaga, 31, threw a no-hitter against the Hokkaido Nipponham Fighters on June 7, 2022. He had nine strikeouts and walked one in his nine-inning gem.
RELATED:
- MLB Notes: Seiya Suzuki is Making Key Contributions for the Resurgent Cubs
- Cubs Left-Hander Shota Imanaga Named to the NL All-Star Team
Author: Ed Odeven
Find Ed on JAPAN Forward's dedicated website, SportsLook. Follow his [Japan Sports Notebook] on Sundays, [Odds and Evens] during the week, and X (formerly Twitter) ＠ed_odeven.
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