Ian Happ, Nick Madrigal, and Miguel Amaya combined for the final play of the game on Wednesday night, securing the win for rookie Shota Imanaga after his impressive seven innings without allowing any runs. The Chicago Cubs clinched a 1-0 victory over the New York Mets.
Hector Neris, who earned his fifth save, faced some pressure in the ninth inning. He hit Pete Alonso with one out and then gave up a double to J.D. Martinez.
However, Jeff McNeil’s fly out to Ian Happ in left field offered an opportunity for the Cubs to end the game. Although Alonso tagged up and attempted to score, Madrigal, who had replaced Christopher Morel as a defensive substitute at third base, cut off Happ’s throw. He quickly threw to Miguel Amaya at home plate.
While Alonso managed to beat the throw, Amaya had his foot on the plate, and Alonso failed to get his arm around the catcher.
Cubs manager Craig Counsell praised the play, stating, “Ian made a good throw to Nick and Nick put a throw right on the money. Just good wherewithal by both guys to do it as fast as they did and as accurately as they could. And a great tag by Miggy.”
The Mets challenged the play, but after a review lasting more than four minutes, umpire Derek Thomas, who was the replay official at the Replay Center in New York, concluded that Amaya did not break the home plate collision rule and could not definitively determine that Alonso made contact with a home plate before Amaya tagged him.
“It was a mix of feelings, but I’m glad it turned out well for us,” Madrigal expressed. The Cubs started celebrating again when crew chief Chad Fairchild confirmed the call.
“It was incredible,” Amaya remarked. “A thrilling finish for us.” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza disagreed with Fairchild.
“I believe they made the wrong decision,” Mendoza stated. “Without having control of the baseball, he shouldn’t be in front of the plate, on the plate, or with his foot on top of the plate.
Clearly, in the replay, that wasn’t the case. He was blocking without having control of the baseball.”
Imanaga (5-0) allowed three hits, walked one, and struck out seven, lowering his ERA to 0.78 — the fourth-lowest ERA by a pitcher in his first six career starts since earned runs became official in both leagues in 1913.
“I think there might not be much information about me,” Imanaga mentioned through an interpreter. “As they watch more videos and gather more data, they’ll come up with a plan to attack me. So when that happens, I just need to adjust and prove myself.”
The Mets had two runners on base against Mark Leiter Jr. in the eighth inning before Yency Almonte struck out Tyrone Taylor and Starling Marte.
