3 takeaways from the Chicago Cubs’ series win, including Nico Hoerner raking and Shota Imanaga dealing
PHILADELPHIA — One mistake on the second pitch of the game could have been the first indicator of a rough night for Chicago Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga. Instead, Trea Turner’s leadoff home run Wednesday night was all the Philadelphia Phillies managed against Imanaga in a dominant outing in the Cubs’ 11-2 victory to secure a series win. Imanaga struck out 11 — tying his career high — in six innings and allowed just two more hits after Turner’s blast.
The Cubs (9-9) provided plenty of support for Imanaga, scoring multiple runs in the third, fifth and sixth innings in the blowout. It was a strong overall performance for the Cubs to kick off a challenging stretch that includes a five-series stretch against the Phillies (twice), New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, the latter two on a West Coast trip to end April. With back-to-back wins over the Phillies before Thursday’s off day, here are three takeaways from the series at Citizens Bank Park.
1. Nico Hoerner staying hot. The Cubs second baseman continues to set the tone at the top of the order.
Horner tallied eight RBIs in the Cubs’ consecutive wins with his five Wednesday, setting a career high. He keeps showing how he can do damage multiple ways, whether it was shooting a sinker down the first-base line to drive in two runs in the sixth inning or his two-run home run to center field in the fifth off Phillies lefty Jésus Luzardo. “There’s some contact that’s more ideal than others, but ultimately, I want to hit the ball flush,” said Hoerner, who went 3-for-5.
“I want to hit hard line drives and certain pitches I elevate more naturally than others. But overall I want to hit hard line drives all over the ballpark and swing at good pitches. ” Through 18 games, Hoerner is hitting .
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