The Chicago Cubs did not mince words against the Pittsburgh Pirates. With a ruthless offense that included four home runs, the Windy City team cruised to a convincing 9-0 victory on a night when Seiya Suzuki came within a single of the cycle. The Japanese outfielder shined brightly in a game that also saw Shota Imanaga pitch five shutout innings before leaving due to physical discomfort.
Suzuki Is One Step Behind the Cycle
The big star of the day was Seiya Suzuki. The Japanese was on fire from the middle of the game, when he hit a double with two outs in the fourth inning to break Andrew Heaney's dominance. That hit opened the door for the Cubs' offensive party.
In the seventh inning, Suzuki increased the home team's lead with a two-run homer, his seventh of the season, and in the ninth, he hit a triple that put him one single away from completing the feat of the cycle. Although he didn't get that last hit, his performance was key to building a perfect night for Chicago.
Suzuki has established himself as a fundamental piece in the Cubs' offense. His ability to hit in different situations and his ability to add extra-base hits make him a constant threat to opponents. Although the cycle got away from him, he made it clear that he is in great shape at the beginning of the season.
Cubs Power Has No Brakes
In addition to Suzuki's show, the Cubs' bats were on fire throughout the game. Carson Kelly joined the party with a two-run home run after Suzuki's double in the fourth inning. Pete Crow-Armstrong also knocked it out of the park in the fifth with another two-run blast, and Dansby Swanson capped the homer fest with a solo blast in the eighth inning.
With these four offensive explosions, Chicago once again made it clear why they lead the majors in runs scored. They already have 181 in just 30 games and have scored at least six in 12 of the 23 games played in April. Offense is their best asset and they are taking advantage of it.
The forcefulness with which they punished Pittsburgh's pitching reflects the depth of their lineup. Not only are they relying on one name, but several players are contributing at key times. Kelly, Crow-Armstrong, Swanson and Suzuki all starred, but the team as a whole shows an offensive harmony that would worry anyone.
Imanaga Responds From the Lomita
On the mound, Shota Imanaga had another solid outing. The Japanese left-hander worked five innings without allowing runs, with six hits against and three strikeouts. His exit from the game in the sixth was due to cramps after receiving a double from Andrew McCutchen, but up to that point he had maintained complete control of the game.
Imanaga has been one of the pleasant surprises of the Cubs' pitching staff. With a 3-1 record and solid effectiveness, he is proving he can be a reliable arm. His ability to avoid damage even when allowing runners keeps him as a strong option every time he steps on the mound.
Meanwhile, Pirates starter Andrew Heaney was coming off a hot streak without allowing a run, but saw it come to an end when Kelly fouled the ball off him. He allowed five hits and four runs in just under five innings. His outing ended after filling the bases after two innings, confirming that the Cubs knew how to read him well after the first inning of the game.
An Unanswered Game For Pittsburgh
The Pirates' offense simply did not show up. They were barely able to add six hits and did not take advantage of the few opportunities they generated. In the fifth inning they managed to fill the bases with two outs thanks to a pass to Oneil Cruz, but Imanaga took care of stopping the threat by striking out Bryan Reynolds on three pitches.
Neither Cruz nor fellow Dominican Alexander Canario could make a difference from the plate. Cruz, however, did make a nice defensive play in center field robbing Kyle Tucker of a hit, but that was one of the few highlights for Pittsburgh on the night.
With the loss, the Pirates are still searching for consistency in both their offense and pitching. The team seems to depend too much on one-off moments and struggles to stay competitive in games where the opponent imposes rhythm early on.
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What's Next for Both Teams
The Cubs will continue the series with Matthew Boyd as their pitcher for the next meeting. With a 2.54 ERA and 2-2 record, the left-hander will look to keep the momentum going for an offense that is carburizing at all levels.
For the Pirates, it will be Carmen Mlodzinski who will take the ball, with a 1-3 record and a high ERA of 6.95, which represents a difficult challenge for the visitors.
Chicago comes in fired up, with confidence in every sector of the game, while Pittsburgh needs an immediate reaction if they don't want to see the series slip through their fingers. The story of the first game made it clear who is in charge for now.
