Cubs defeat Red Sox, and Shota Imanaga moves to 4-0.
In order to back up rookie left-handed starter Shota Imanaga (4-0), who allowed just one run on five hits in 6 1/3 innings while striking out seven, the second-highest number of strikeouts in his short MLB career, the Cubs collected 14 hits.
Chicago won four games in a row with two hits each from Dansby Swanson and Christopher Morel.
After replacing Imanaga, Keegan Thompson pitched the remaining 2 2/3 innings, giving up two hits.
Tyler O’Neill went 2-for-4 and scored the lone run for Boston with a solo home run in the fourth inning.
For the Red Sox, Kutter Crawford (1-1) struck out four in six innings while giving up four runs (three earned) on ten hits. Crawford’s 0.66 ERA, which led the MLB going into the game, skyrocketed to 1.35. In his past two outings, he has given up nine hits in total.
In the second inning, four hits allowed the Cubs to score twice. At the start of the first, Busch doubled off the wall in center, and Swanson singled to center, advancing Busch to third. Busch was scored by Matt Mervis with a single to the right. Crow-Armstrong hit a single to center to drive Swanson home after Miguel Amaya lined into a double play.
In the fourth, Chicago extended its lead. Swanson scored the first single. Swanson moved to third after Amaya reached on an error after one out. With a sacrifice bunt, Crow-Armstrong drove home Swanson to give the Cubs a 3-0 lead.
During its half of the fourth, Boston answered. O’Neill singled to center field with one out. Imanaga then walked Rob Refsnyder and gave Rafael Devers a single, but he was able to end the inning without suffering any further damage.
After Mike Tauchman opened the inning with a single, Busch’s sacrifice fly in the fifth inning gave Chicago even more of a lead.
Highlighting a three-run seventh for Chicago, Patrick Wisdom launched a pinch-hit, two-run double that rolled to the wall in center.