The Chicago Cubs dominated the Los Angeles Dodgers in an 8-1 victory on Sunday, highlighted by Cody Bellinger’s homer against his former team and Shota Imanaga’s impressive pitching performance. Despite a nearly three-hour weather delay, Imanaga threw four shutout innings, allowing only two singles and striking out three batters. This marked his second consecutive scoreless start in the big leagues.
The Cubs, who have been on a hot streak winning six of their last seven games, took two out of three in the weekend series against the Dodgers. The game also featured standout performances from Japanese players such as Shohei Ohtani, who doubled in Mookie Betts for the Dodgers’ only run.
Yency Almonte earned the win for the Cubs, striking out two in a scoreless inning, while Daniel Palencia secured his first career save with three solid innings of work. The game was halted in the bottom of the fourth inning with the Cubs leading 6-0 due to inclement weather.
The series between the Cubs and Dodgers also reunited members of Team Japan from the 2023 World Baseball Classic. Imanaga, who recently signed a lucrative contract with the Cubs, showcased his skills against Ohtani, who signed a record-breaking deal with the Dodgers. The game also saw contributions from other Japanese stars like Seiya Suzuki and Yoshinobu Yamamoto.
Overall, the Cubs’ victory was a testament to their strong performance on both offense and defense, setting the stage for exciting matchups in the upcoming games.