Imanaga strikes out 11 and Swanson homers with 4 RBIs to lead Cubs over A's 9-2

 

[September 17, 2024]  By MATT CARLSON

CHICAGO (AP) — Shota Imanaga struck out a career-high 11 in winning his fifth straight start, Dansby Swanson hit a three-run homer while tying his season high with four RBIs and Chicago Cubs defeated the Oakland Athletics 9-2 on Monday night.

Chicago (77-73) remained five games behind the New York Mets (82-68) for the final NL wild card with 12 games remaining.

Imanaga (14-3) allowed five hits over six innings, including Brent Rooker’s 38th homer, a two run-drive in the third. The 31-year-old left-hander walked three and reached 14 wins for the first time as a professional in his first year in the majors after eight previous seasons in Japan.

“He's a rookie and he's really talented and good,” Chicago manager Craig Counsell said. “I hope there's other things he's got left to accomplish."

Imanaga reached 166 1/3 innings for the season on Monday, topping his goal of throwing at least 162 in 2024.

“I''m being honest, I'm not too concerned about the amount of wins I have,” Imanaga said through a translator. “I think it's more important to help the team win.”

Imanaga got 11 of his 22 misses on split-finger fastballs.

“That pitch was super-effective,” Counsell said. “We though they were going to be aggressive to the fastball, so the split turned out to be a really good pitch tonight.”

Rooker went deep for the second straight game and added a single as Oakland lost its third straight. The previous two were at the White Sox, who had not won back-to-back games in nearly three months.

Isaac Paredes and Miguel Amaya each had three hits and drove in two runs in an 18-hit attack. Paredes is 14 for his last 29 (.483) with seven RBIs in his last eight games.

Seiya Suzuki had three hits, among seven Cubs starters with multi-hit games.

Trey Wingenter followed Imanaga with two scoreless innings and Jack Neely worked around a pair of singles in the ninth.

Joey Estes (7-8) gave up six runs and nine hits. He was chased after the first six Cubs batters in second hit safely.

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Shota Imanaga delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Oakland Athletics on Monday, Sept. 16, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

“Not good,” Estes said. “I gave up a three-run homer, I guess that was my damage, but everything else was cheap hits, just found that gap. I just couldn't get an out that inning.

“I personally felt I was unlucky. I would get two strikes. I would throw a good pitch and they would hit it off the end of the bat for a blooper or soft-hit ball through the hole.”

Paredes hit two-out RBI single in the first and Chicago blew open the game with a five-run second. Amaya and Ian Happ had RBI singles and Swanson followed with his 15th homer, a drive into the basket in left.

“We put together a lot of hits right out of the gate,” Swanson said. "We kind of kept the momentum going on offense.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Athletics: OF Lawrence Butler was held out of the starting lineup but was available off the bench. … RHP Ross Stripling (low back strain) will throw a bullpen session on Wednesday, but manager Mark Kotsay said he’s “not necessarily nearing a return.” … RHP Austin Adams (right forearm tendinitis) is awaiting further evaluation. … RHP Osvaldo Bido (right wrist flexor tendonitis) is with the A’s but hasn’t started playing catch.

Cubs: LHP Justin Steele (left elbow tendinitis) is progressing after a bullpen session on Saturday and threw a “light touch and feel” off a mound on Monday, manager Craig Counsell said. Counsell added Steele could pitch again this season.

UP NEXT

Oakland RHP Mitch Spence (7-9, 4.33) faced Chicago LHP Jordan Wicks (2-3, 5.27) on Tuesday night.

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