That is the best way to make a primary impression.
Shota Imanaga was sensational in his MLB debut on Monday for the Chicago Cubs. The 30-year-old rookie struck out 9 Colorado Rockies batters and walked none in six innings of shutout work in a 5-0 Cubs win at Wrigley Area.
Imanaga began his MLB profession by inducing a flyout from outfielder Charlie Blackmon. He then bought a swinging third strike from second baseman Brendan Rodgers on a splitter that tumbled beneath the zone for the primary strikeout of his MLB profession.
Kris Bryant reached base off Imanaga on an error to steer off the second inning. Imanaga then struck out consecutive batters on his option to getting out of the inning unscathed.
Imanaga did not enable his first hit till Blackmon singled to middle subject with two outs within the sixth. He closed out the inning with a strikeout of left fielder Nolan Jones to finish his day on the mound. Yency Almonte took over in reduction within the seventh, and the Cubs bullpen accomplished the shutout win.
Sixty-two of Imanaga’s 95 pitches thrown have been thrown for strikes. He made Cubs and MLB historical past within the course of. Per MLB Community’s Sarah Langs, Imanaga’s 5 2/3 innings tied for the longest no-hit bid by a Cubs pitcher in his MLB debut since 1920, matching an effort by Amaury Telemaco in 1996.
Imanaga additionally tied the MLB file (since 1901) for strikeouts and not using a stroll or run allowed in his MLB debut. Nick Kingham did the identical in his 2018 debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
most strikeouts with no walks or runs allowed, MLB debut since at the very least 1901:
2024 Shota Imanaga: 9
2018 Nick Kingham: 9— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) April 1, 2024
Bloopers get Cubs on the board
Chicago’s offense bought some assist from the not-so-stellar Rockies protection. With the sport in a scoreless tie within the backside of the sixth, Cubs third baseman Christopher Morel hit a single to shallow left subject with two males on. He bought farther than first base.
Jones misplayed the ball in left, and it rolled all the best way to outfield wall. Amid the chaos, Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki scored from second and first. Morel then stood on third as Jones threw the ball again to the infield.
The ball did not make it. It bounced in need of the cutoff man, and Morel sprinted for dwelling for the third run of the sequence. Chicago then had a three-run lead, which was greater than sufficient amid Imanaga’s stellar outing. Jones was charged with a fielding error and a throwing error on the play, accounting for 2 of the runs scored.
The Cubs absolutely could not have imagined a greater debut for Imanaga after they acquired him. They signed Imanaga to a four-year, $53 million contract in January, which may prolong to 5 years and $80 million. He joined the Cubs from the Yokohama BayStars of the Japan Central League.
Imanaga posted a 2.80 ERA in 22 begins for Yokohama final season. He led the Japan Central League with 174 strikeouts and walked 24 batters in 148 innings. He had a tough spring coaching, with a 2-2 file and a 5.68 ERA within the Cactus League. However he was clearly greater than prepared for his MLB debut on Monday.
