Sometimes, not being aware of the whole story can prove to be pretty effective. At least that proved to be so in the case of Chicago Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga. He pitched seven no-hit innings as the Chicago Cubs belted the Pittsburgh Pirates 12-0 at Wrigley Field on Wednesday night. So what makes this even more intriguing is the fact that Shota Imanaga was not aware he was throwing a no-hitter until after he was pulled out of the game.
A Locked-In Performance
Imanaga had no clue that he was working a no-hitter and was all about the game at that moment in time. He was so in the zone that he did not even realize he had completed the no-hitter. Following the seventh inning, when Cubs manager Craig Counsell came to take him out of the game, it was then that Imanaga found out the importance of his outing.
He didn’t know he had a no-hitter going at all, Counsell said with a chuckle. What makes the story more incredible is how focused Imanaga was on one pitch at a time and not in the greater context of the game itself. Imanaga’s seven innings of no-hit baseball were part of a combined no-hitter completed by Cubs relievers Nate Pearson and Porter Hodge. Pearson and Hodge pitched the eighth and ninth innings, respectively, to complete the no-hit performance. It was the first no-hitter thrown by the Cubs at Wrigley Field since 1972, hence an accomplishment worthy of going into the history books.
It was not an easy call for counsel against Imanaga being taken out of the game. Counsell explained that this decision came out of health considerations for Imanaga. The priority was to make sure that Imanaga remained healthy for the rest of the season.
Imanaga’s Reaction
Imanaga understood and trusted Counsel’s decision. A rookie pitcher this season, he is 12-3 with a 2.99 ERA and has 155 strikeouts in 153 1/3 innings. He’s been a big reason the Cubs have remained in the postseason hunt this season. With the Cubs now 72-68, they are 4.5 games behind the third National League Wild Card spot, and a dominating night by Imanaga becomes a huge boost for the team to make a late-season push.
Indeed, the combined no-hitter brought glory to the Cubs and their fans. For Imanaga, though, it was a night of unusual greatness. Of course, not caring about the statistics but about how to pitch helped him do his best, showing commitment and skill in the sport.
Throughout this season, Imanaga will be critical to the success of the Cubs. His strongest attribute and ability to concentrate on his game are crucial to ensuring success within the team. His season can be a highly monitored situation by fans to see how it all pans out and if his great start continues. Moments of greatness in sports usually come from players who are, well, just in the zone. The no-hitter was a statement of focus and skill for Shota Imanaga that will be remembered in his rookie season.
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