With the pressure of a hostile crowd and playoff implications simmering in late June, Shōta Imanaga made his return — not with hesitation, but with absolute dominance. After weeks on the injured list, the Japanese sensation led the Chicago Cubs to a crucial 3–0 shutout win over the rival St. Louis Cardinals, securing a series split and reminding everyone why he’s one of MLB’s most electrifying newcomers.
It was a game marked by flawless pitching, emotional tension, and a finale that nearly boiled over into chaos.
“I Felt Calm”: Imanaga Silences Cardinals
Coming off a left hamstring strain that had sidelined him since early May, Imanaga wasted no time regaining command. He delivered five innings of near-perfection, giving up only a first-inning single to Masyn Winn before retiring 14 of the next 15 batters. With just one walk and three strikeouts, he lowered his ERA to 2.54.
“I felt relaxed afterwards,” Imanaga said through an interpreter. “I was able to stay calm and make the play.”
Calm, yes — but not passive. His return couldn’t have come at a more pivotal moment for a Cubs team clinging to its division lead.
Busch Bomb, Hustle Runs, and a Statement Win
The Cubs offense supported Imanaga with timely execution. Michael Busch crushed a solo homer in the second inning — his 13th of the season — to put Chicago ahead early. An RBI walk from Ian Happ in the fourth and a slick baserunning play by Pete Crow-Armstrong in the eighth padded the lead.
The Cubs didn’t just win — they outplayed, outpitched, and outhustled their archrivals at Busch Stadium.
Tension Boils Over in Ninth Inning
What began as a clinical victory nearly turned into a melee.
With two outs in the ninth, closer Daniel Palencia uncorked a 100 mph fastball that hit Willson Contreras — a former Cub — igniting glares and words exchanged. After striking out Nolan Gorman to end the game, Palencia let out a primal roar, stared down Contreras, and both benches emptied onto the field.
Though no punches were thrown, the moment encapsulated everything about this rivalry — fiery, emotional, and dangerously close to erupting.
Execution Over Emotion
After the dust settled, Cubs manager Craig Counsell was quick to praise his team’s focus.
“He controlled his energy really well,” Counsell said of Imanaga. “That caused a lot of really good execution.”
The bullpen followed Imanaga with four scoreless innings, and Palencia earned his eighth save in style — even if it came with fireworks.
With the victory, the Cubs improved to 48–33, maintaining their lead atop the NL Central. The Cardinals fell to 42–36, now trailing by 4.5 games. And with the All-Star break looming and the trade deadline approaching, the two teams’ paths are quickly diverging — one rising, the other reeling.
The Cubs head to Houston with momentum and a healthy ace. The Cardinals, meanwhile, must regroup before facing the Guardians. But after this game, one thing is clear:
The rivalry is alive. The fire is burning. And the Cubs just threw fuel on it.