Chicago Cubs Shota Imanaga./Getty Images Korea
[마이데일리 = 박승환 기자] “I was happy to earn your trust.”
Chicago Cubs Shota Imanaga started the 2024 Major League Baseball game against the San Diego Padres at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, USA on the 8th (Korea time) and pitched 102 pitches in 7 innings, allowing 7 hits (1 home run) and 1 walk. He struck out 8 and gave up 2 runs.
Imanaga, who is challenging the big leagues through the mail system, has a contract worth $53 million (about 72.4 billion won) guaranteed for four years this winter, and if the Cubs practice the option, the contract will increase in size to up to $ 80 million (about 109.3 billion won) for 4+1 years He entered the main stage of the league through . Imanaga did not receive much attention throughout the Stove League and exhibition games due to the presence of Yoshinobu Yamamoto (LA Dodgers), but after the start of the regular season, the spotlight began to gradually turn towards Imanaga.
Imanaga played a game against the Colorado Rockies on the 1st of last month, allowing 2 hits, no walks, 9 strikeouts, and no runs in 6 innings, no losses, and an ERA of 0.98. As a result, I had the joy of being chosen as ‘Rookie of the Month’. And on the 2nd, against the New York Mets, he recorded 7 strikeouts and no runs in 7 innings, ranking first in the Major Leagues in wins and ERA along with Quality Start + (3 runs or less in 7 innings).
Given Imanaga’s detailed indicators, the current performance is largely due to ‘luck’. However, he adapts to the big league stage by making the most of his strengths, such as targeting courses with a high strike zone through precise control of fastballs with high spin rates, and being a left-handed splitter, which n rare even in the major leagues. And although he did not manage to get a victory that day, he proved that his performance so far was not due to luck.
Chicago Cubs Shota Imanaga./Getty Images Korea Chicago Cubs Shota Imanaga./Getty Images Korea
Imanaga sent runners out in the first with a walk in the first inning and a hit in the second. However, he did not allow any runners to step on second base and set up a scoreless pitch. Imanaga, who had found stability, cruised through the batting line of Kyle Higashioka, Jurickson Profar, and Fernando Tatis Jr. in the third over, and Jake Cronenworth, Manny Machado, and Xander Bogaerts in the fourth over. And in the 5th inning, after striking out Donovan Solano on a fly ball to left field and Ha-seong Kim on a foul tip, he was hit by Jose Ahsoka, but completed the inning without any major danger and met the requirements for victory.
Even the biggest crisis was overcome. Imanaga was in danger of giving up a run in the 6th inning when he gave up a surprise bunt to Cronenworth after being hit by Tatis Jr. At this time, a stunning pitch came out. Imanaga took a breather by targeting Machado’s body and striking out, and then used a splitter as a winning shot against Bogaerts, the next hitter, and struck out. After escaping a major crisis, Imanaga roared and moved to the dugout, tying the San Diego batting line without a crisis in the 7th inning.
The problem was in the 8th inning. Imanaga had 95 pitches at the end of the 7th inning, and he appeared on the mound once again. As a result, after being hit by leadoff hitter Luis Arraez, Jurickson Profar, whose batting skills have exploded recently, was hit by a splitter on the fifth pitch, allowing a two-run home run to come off the behind. In the end, Imanaga left the mound without being able to finish the inning, and his ERA, which had dropped to 0.65, quickly increased to 1.08.
Imanaga was on the verge of losing despite pitching 7 innings and allowing 2 runs. But an unfair situation did not happen. The Cubs managed to escape the crisis of the loss by tying the game in the bottom of the 8th inning. And with the home run in the bottom of the 9th inning, the Cubs recorded a 7 game winning streak with Imanaga on the mound. According to Japan’s ‘Sports Hochi’, Imanaga saw a home run while stretching after finishing his pitch, so he hurriedly moved to the dugout and enjoyed the joy of his team’s victory.
Chicago Cubs Shota Imanaga./Getty Images Korea Chicago Cubs Shota Imanaga./Getty Images Korea
Imanaga said, “The best thing was when the fastball was thrown over the batter’s belt. Especially in the 6th inning, I really wanted to strike out Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts, and I was able to do that. I was n upset that we turned the tables, but I was lucky that we won.” In the first game, there were two missed pitches, but it was no surprise that he hit two shots and the fans started cheering. I was so happy I couldn’t’ I sleep well these days, so I want to use that fun as an alarm.” I smiled brightly.
Even though it was 95 pitches at the end of the 7th inning, what was the reason for taking the mound in the 8th inning? Imanaga said, “I didn’t really have anything to say (on the bench), so I was just getting ready. I was happy that I was given the trust to come on the mound in the 8th inning, and it was very valuable to me.” I also gained confidence from the fact that the manager has that kind of trust. he,” he explained. It was disappointing, but it was worth it.
Finally, Imanaga said, “When I look back at every pitch, most people think, ‘It wasn’t good.’ well so people can think, ‘I blocked it.’ “He said definitely.
On this day, Imanaga’s ERA increased due to the number of home runs, but in the first 7 games since 1912, he recorded the third lowest ERA of all time, following Phil Douglas (1918, 0.79 ERA) and Dick Ellsworth (1963, 0.91 ). And according to Sarah Langs of ‘MLB.com’, in the first seven games of a first season, it was the first time in history that there were only 5 walks with an ERA of 1.08 Based on the opener, Glover Alexander (. 1920) and Warren Hacker (1952) , becoming the fourth all-time leading scorer in Cubs history after Jake Arrieta (2015).
Reporter Park Seung-hwan absolute@mydaily.co.kr
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