Cubs pitcher Shota Imanaga didn’t expect what he saw when manager Craig Counsell approached him in the dugout Wednesday night. Counsell had a look of concern, something Imanaga hadn’t seen before at the end of a solid start.
“I could tell something was up,” Imanaga said through his interpreter, Edwin Stanberry. “That’s when I found out.”
Imanaga learned he had thrown seven no-hit innings against the Pirates. Even after the realization, he trusted his manager’s call. The Cubs’ left-hander shared the historic moment with relievers Nate Pearson and Porter Hodge, who combined with Imanaga to throw the 18th no-hitter in Cubs history, leading to a 12-0 win over Pittsburgh.
This marked the first no-hitter for the Cubs at Wrigley Field since Milt Pappas’ memorable game on September 2, 1972, against the Padres. After the victory, Imanaga posed for pictures with Hodge, Pearson, and catcher Miguel Amaya, who held the ball from the final out.
“That ball’s going to the Hall of Fame,” Amaya said. “It feels incredible to be part of Cubs history.”
The last Cubs no-hitter, also a combined effort, took place on June 24, 2021, when four Cubs pitchers held the Dodgers hitless in Los Angeles. In that game, closer Craig Kimbrel learned after the final out that a no-hitter had been thrown. Similarly, Imanaga didn’t know until Counsell told him, and Pearson wasn’t aware until he ran onto the field for the eighth inning.
When the Wrigley crowd realized Imanaga was done after throwing 95 pitches in seven outstanding innings, they booed. That reaction alerted Pearson that something important was happening.
“I honestly didn’t know we had a no-hitter,” Pearson admitted with a smile. “When I heard the boos, I figured something was up. So I just locked in and did my job.”
Pearson retired the side in order in the eighth, setting up Hodge for the ninth. The rookie right-hander, a standout in Chicago’s bullpen this season, retired Billy McKinney, Nick Gonzales, and Oneil Cruz with three consecutive ground balls to shortstop Dansby Swanson.
“I told Dansby, ‘Don’t miss this,’” Amaya said, laughing.
Swanson handled Cruz’s chopper and made a clean throw to first baseman Michael Busch, sealing the no-hitter.
“There’s a lot of nerves when you’re waiting for that final out,” Hodge said. “It’s just so tense.”
Swanson, a two-time Gold Glove winner, was calm under pressure.
“I wasn’t nervous,” Swanson said, smiling. “It was just one of those great moments to be part of.”
The Cubs’ offense provided plenty of support, building a 7-0 lead by the third inning, thanks to back-to-back home runs from Swanson and Pete Crow-Armstrong off Pirates pitcher Domingo Germán. Both players finished a triple short of the cycle, and Cody Bellinger added a two-run homer in the sixth to make it 11-0.
Imanaga, now 12-3 with a 2.99 ERA in his impressive rookie season, had to navigate a few challenging moments. Third baseman Isaac Paredes committed three errors, but Imanaga avoided trouble in the first and sixth innings. He also issued two walks in the second but escaped unscathed. Overall, Imanaga struck out seven batters, leaving the game after 95 pitches.
Manager Craig Counsell defended his decision to pull Imanaga despite the no-hitter.
“It’s always tough in that spot,” Counsell said. “But you’ve got to think about the bigger picture and take care of Shota. He didn’t even know he had a no-hitter going, which is kind of funny.”
After the game, Imanaga reflected on the achievement, grateful for his teammates’ contributions.
“I have a lot of respect for everyone,” Imanaga said. “Porter, Nate, Miggy, the defense – I’m thankful for all of them today.”
