The Chicago Cubs finally recorded another no-hitter at their Wrigley Field. Rookie Shota Imanaga and relievers Nate Pearson and Porter Hodge combined to allow no hits in a 12-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Imanaga carried most of the load, making 95 pitches, striking out seven, and allowing no hits and no runs with two walks in seven innings. But while it seemed like he could finish the job by himself, manager Craig Counsell decided to have Pearson and Hodge share the spotlight.
Speaking about the decision to pull out Imanaga after seven innings, Counsell said it was part of the team’s strategy to keep their prized pitcher healthy.
“Look, it’s always hard to do in that situation,” Counsell said. “You’re taking care of Shota. It’s 100 percent about taking care of Shota and making sure we’re doing the right thing for him. It’s not fun to do. But you’re prioritizing the player’s health. You don’t know what’s going to happen moving forward. We want him to stay healthy. He’s had a career-high in innings. He actually didn’t know he had a no-hitter going at all.”
Shota Imanaga signed a four-year, $53 million contract with the Cubs in the offseason after previously playing his entire career in Japan. Imanaga immediately made an impact in MLB, earning an All-Star nod after a stellar first part of the season. He made 26 starts so far in 2024, owning a 12-3 record with a 2.99 ERA and 155 strikeouts.
