'He did it again': Shota adds even more accolades in latest start

ATLANTA -- The Braves’ vaunted lineup gave Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga the hardest challenge of his young Major League career on Monday night. Atlanta pushed up his pitch count, drew three walks and gave the pitcher his first test with the bases loaded.

“It's still five zeros,” Cubs manager Craig Counsell said.

While the Cubs were dealt a 2-0 defeat in the opener of a three-game set at Truist Park, Imanaga sidestepped a steady stream of traffic en route to five scoreless innings. In the process, the Cubs rookie sensation continued to collect historic footnotes.

Imanaga and Braves right-hander Reynaldo López matched each other for five frames, walking off the mound with a 0.96 ERA and 1.34 ERA, respectively. The Cubs lefty piled up eight strikeouts, including inning-ending punchouts in the first and third innings to strand two runners each time.

“He pitched really well,” Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. said via translator. “He’s a tremendous pitcher. You have to give him all of the credit.”

• Imanaga’s 0.96 ERA is the fourth lowest through a pitcher’s first eight career starts (excluding openers) since at least 1913, when the earned run became an official stat in both the American and National Leagues. Only Fernando Valenzuela (0.50 in 1981), Dave Ferriss (0.75 in 1945) and Cisco Carlos (0.95 in 1967-68) had lower marks.

• For the Cubs, Imanaga’s ERA is the lowest since at least 1912 (when the NL first tracked earned runs) through the first eight starts of the season (with no relief outings mixed in).

• Imanaga became the first Cubs left-hander to pick off at least two baserunners in a game since Jim Davis accomplished the feat on July 5, 1954, against the Reds.

Acuña, who stole 73 bags last season and has 14 already this year, drew a leadoff walk in the first against Imanaga. With Marcell Ozuna in the box with one out, Imanaga began his delivery, but stepped toward first base and got a quick throw off. Cubs first baseman Michael Busch gloved the ball and swiftly tagged Acuña on the backside as he lunged back to first.

In the fifth, Ozzie Albies reached with a single to left field in an effort to get something going against Imanaga. This time, the Cubs lefty caught a glimpse of Albies beginning a move to second base. Imanaga quickly stepped off the mound and threw to first base, where Busch again applied the tag in time for a rally-killing out.

“When he got Albies, [some teammates] were laughing,” Cubs third baseman Christopher Morel said. “And I was laughing, too, like, ‘He did it again.’”

“He did it again,” has been a theme for Imanaga eight starts into his MLB career.

In this showing, though, Imanaga encountered 10 baserunners -- two more than his previous high. The lefty led with his four-seamer (64 pitches) and balanced things out with his splitter (30) and sweeper (four). Imanaga generated 18 swinging strikes along the way, but also benefited from two called strikeouts.

“I would say the quality of my fastball was good,” Imanaga said via his interpreter, Edwin Stanberry. “However, knowing the Braves offense, I was being a little careful.”

One key strikeout arrived in the third inning, when Atlanta had runners on the corners and two outs with Matt Olson batting. Imanaga went with his four-seamer in a 1-2 count, sending it low and away. Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya presented the pitch perfectly, getting the strikeout as the pitcher strolled calmly off the hill.

“I thought it might have been a little low,” Imanaga said. “I think I was a little lucky.”

In the fourth, the Braves loaded the bases with two outs, bringing Acuña up in a crucial moment. The Braves' star checked his swing on a 2-1 pitch and first-base umpire Junior Valentine motioned that Acuña held up for ball three. In the dugout, Counsell threw his hands into the air in frustration and was promptly given the first ejection of his Cubs managerial career.

Counsell walked across the field, giving Imanaga time to collect himself.

“I was curious why I was thrown out,” Counsell said.

“I'm really thankful for Craig Counsell,” Imanaga said, “for coming out and showing more emotion than I do on the swing. Regardless of if it was a swing or not, just him having my back I really appreciate.”

After the situation calmed, Imanaga went back to work, inducing an inning-ending flyout from Acuña to pass another Major League exam.

“Imanaga is amazing,” Morel said. “No matter who is going to bat, he just keeps fighting. He's an unbelievable pitcher.”