Shota Imanaga allowed just two hits over seven innings, Isaac Paredes hit a three-run home run for his first homer with the Cubs, and Chicago defeated the Minnesota Twins 7-3 on Tuesday night.
Imanaga retired the first 10 batters he faced before walking one and then giving up a two-run home run to Royce Lewis. Despite this, the Cubs managed to end Minnesota’s five-game winning streak. The 30-year-old left-hander struck out 10 batters, matching his career high.
“Shota, he was outstanding,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said. “The strikeouts are a big indicator. Very few balls were hit hard today.”
Imanaga (9-2) credits his improved split-finger fastball for the increase in strikeouts, noting he has 30 in his last four starts.
“Working on my splitter helps to get swings and misses and strikeouts,” Imanaga said through a translator.
Paredes, who was traded from Tampa Bay on July 28, had two hits and drove in four runs. Dansby Swanson contributed three hits, including a run-scoring triple in the sixth, helping the Cubs win for the fifth time in seven games.
Paredes, who had been struggling with a .111 average in his first seven games with Chicago, said, “I really needed a game like this to get going and build confidence. I was trying too hard to impress everyone.”
Imanaga also gave up a double to rookie Brooks Lee in the windy conditions at Wrigley Field. Christian Vázquez hit a solo home run off reliever Drew Smyly in the eighth.
Minnesota starter Pablo López (10-8) allowed four runs on seven hits over five innings. The Twins fell four games behind the first-place Cleveland team in the AL Central but remain in the second AL wild card spot.
“I was fighting myself on the mound too much, which led to a lot of pitches up in the zone,” López said. “When you keep missing up, batters will start making contact. So, overall, it was not a good night.”
