Shota Imanaga pitched seven shutout innings and Nico Hoerner had a bases-loaded triple and four RBIs to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 10-1 victory over the Minnesota Twins on Sunday.
Alex Bregman hit a two-run homer in the first and Imanaga (6-8) took over from there, allowing six hits with one walk before leaving after 99 pitches. The left-hander has gone a season-high seven innings four times, also shutting out the Diamondbacks in a win on May 2.
Twins Manager Derek Shelton showed a little disappointment in how the pitching staff handled Cubs hitters.
"We just didn't finish anybody," Shelton said about the Twins pitching. "0-2 hits, 1-2 hit, we had the two walks. But overall just left balls in the middle of the plate with two strikes."
Seiya Suzuki had a one-out double off Zebby Matthews (4-7) and Bregman hit his 10th home run — a two-out shot for the lead.
Pedro Ramírez doubled and scored on Carson Kelly's single to make it 3-0 in the second.
Bregman and Ian Happ walked after Michael Busch's one-out single to load the bases in the third. Hoerner tripled on a ball that one-hopped past Luke Keaschall in center field before scoring on a single by Ramírez for a 7-0 advantage.
Shelton said the team has to flush their performance from Saturday and Sunday, while adding Keaschall will be fine.
"We know there's going to be some growing pains with Keaschall," said Shelton after the game. "He's played well. Today, misread a ball that was right at him, but other than that, I don't think it's affected us very much."
Pete Crow-Armstrong doubled leading off the fourth, Suzuki walked and Busch, who went 3 for 5, singled for an 8-0 lead. Suzuki scored when Bregman reached on a fielding error at third by Brooks Lee to chase Matthews, who allowed 10 runs — eight earned — and nine hits in three innings.
Up next
Minnesota Twins (49-51, third in the AL Central) vs. Cleveland Guardians (52-48, second in the AL Central)
Cleveland; Monday, 5:40 p.m. Pregame 5:00 p.m. on 830 WCCO and the Audacy app (in-market only)
PITCHING PROBABLES: Twins: Joe Ryan (6-5, 3.34 ERA, 1.06 WHIP, 128 strikeouts); Guardians: Tanner Bibee (3-9, 3.90 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 87 strikeouts)
LINE: Twins -122, Guardians +100; over/under is 7 1/2 runs
BOTTOM LINE: The Cleveland Guardians host the Minnesota Twins on Monday to open a four-game series.
Cleveland has a 25-24 record at home and a 52-48 record overall. The Guardians have gone 21-10 in games when they did not give up a home run.
Minnesota has a 49-51 record overall and a 23-26 record on the road. The Twins have the eighth-best team slugging percentage in MLB play at .413.
Monday's game is the seventh time these teams match up this season. The Twins hold a 4-2 advantage in the season series.
TOP PERFORMERS: Chase DeLauter has 17 doubles, a triple and 11 home runs for the Guardians. Steven Kwan is 13 for 29 with two doubles over the past 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Guardians: 5-5, .240 batting average, 3.78 ERA, outscored by four runs
Twins: 6-4, .258 batting average, 3.78 ERA, outscored by two runs
INJURIES: Guardians: Jose Ramirez: 10-Day IL (hand), Angel Martinez: 10-Day IL (foot), Tim Herrin: 15-Day IL (elbow)
Twins: Marco Raya: 15-Day IL (shoulder), David Festa: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Byron Buxton: 10-Day IL (hip), Cole Sands: 15-Day IL (forearm), Mick Abel: 60-Day IL (elbow), Anthony Banda: 60-Day IL (lat), Garrett Acton: 60-Day IL (shoulder), Connor Prielipp: 15-Day IL (finger), Pablo Lopez: 60-Day IL (elbow)
