What a night it was for the Chicago Cubs! On a cool night at Wrigley Field, the Cubs did something they hadn’t done in over five decades. For the first time since 1972, the Cubs had cause for celebration on a combined no-hitter, blanking the Pittsburgh Pirates 12-0. The atmosphere was electric as the Cubs turned in a performance that simply would not be forgotten, mingling perfect pitching with explosive offense.
Cubs Combine To Record First No-Hitter
Stealing the show was Shota Imanaga, who took to the hill with determination and finesse. For seven dazzling innings, Imanaga kept the Pirates hitless, showing his prowess on the mound. Though he was not even aware of the no-hitter. He found out only when Cubs Manager Craig Counsell approached him. Imanaga kept his cool and was confident in his manager’s call to pull him after 95 pitches.
Imanaga’s effort set the table for relievers Nate Pearson and Porter Hodge to slam the door. Pearson came in for the eighth inning, unaware of the no-hitter, and quickly knew it by being booed. After the realization, Pearson buckled down and retired the side in order. Hodge started the ninth and retired the side in order with nerves of steel, thanks to a pretty play from Shortstop Dansby Swanson to first baseman Michael Busch.
A Night To Remember
The cherry on top was, of course, the offensive eruption by the Cubs. By the top of the third alone, they powered out to a 7-0 advantage. Dansby Swanson and Pete Crow-Armstrong homered consecutively, and Cody Bellinger tacked on a two-run blast in the sixth. Swanson and Crow-Armstrong nearly pulled off a cycle, and at every opportunity, the crowd went wild.
Imanaga was fabulous, fanning seven while wriggling his way out of a couple of tight jams considering a pair of errors by Third Baseman Isaac Paredes and two walks. The fact that he was able to wiggle his way out of those jams was a great testament to how tough and skilled he is. With the win, Imanaga moved his record to 12-3 and held a very respectable 2.99 ERA for the season so far in his rookie campaign.
Celebrating the Achievement
Manager Craig Counsell was between a rock and a hard place with his decision to pull Imanaga out of the game for the health of the important postseason piece. Feelings about Counsell’s decision were mixed, but one thing for sure was that the long-term benefit counted for everything when the decision was made. Following the game, Counsell took a question regarding his decision and answered it in a comedic fashion.
This night of history at Wrigley will be remembered as an act of synergy, skill, and persistence. The combined no-hitter performance by the Cubs has etched their names into the record books, and it also allowed the magic of baseball to take center stage. This is one of those moments that both fans and players will remember as the Cubs surge along with a rejuvenated spirit to attain their postseason aspirations.
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