In a rain-interrupted showdown, Cody Bellinger launched a home run against his former team, adding to the spectacle as the Chicago Cubs secured an 8-1 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Sunday.
Dodgers Did Not See The Light
Shota Imanaga, despite a delayed start due to bad weather, showed his prowess by pitching four shutout innings before the game was stopped.
The left-hander's outstanding performance included allowing just two singles, striking out three and issuing no walks, further cementing his impressive start to his major league career. the big leagues with 10 scoreless innings in two starts.
The Cubs continued their winning streak, securing their sixth win in seven games and making it two wins out of three in a series that highlighted the talents of four prominent Japanese players league-wide.
Shohei Ohtani provided a glimmer of hope for the Dodgers, doubling home Mookie Betts in the eighth inning to secure their only run. Ohtani's offensive contributions included a triple with two outs in the sixth, but the Dodgers were unable to capitalize, as Freddie Freeman batted around to end the inning.
Yency Almonte earned the victory, showing his prowess on the mound by striking out two batters in one inning, allowing no runs against his former team. Daniel Palencia closed out the game, pitching three innings to secure his first career save.
Amid a rainy and cold afternoon at Wrigley Field, the maintenance crew worked diligently on the mound and in the box. The game came to an abrupt halt with the Cubs enjoying a solid 6-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Third baseman Miguel Rojas, struggling with the adverse conditions, lamented the challenge of playing through puddles of water, although he refrained from attributing errors to the weather.
The impromptu break drew cheers from the crowd as they watched the women's college basketball championship between Iowa and South Carolina on the stadium screen.
Victory formation 🫡 Series dub!
Busch: 3 RBI, 2B
Bellinger: HR, BB
Tauchman: 2B, R, RBI, BB pic.twitter.com/Usel8KagFz- Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) April 8, 2024
Cubs Dominate After The Break
This series served as a reunion for members of Japan's 2023 World Baseball Classic team. Shota Imanaga, who signed a lucrative contract with the Cubs, demonstrated his prowess on the mound, striking out Shohei Ohtani and inducing a crucial out.
Despite the success, Imanaga remains focused on staying healthy during the season rather than building confidence. Ohtani, donning Dodgers colors after a historic deal, made his mark with a two-run homer in his first start at Wrigley Field.
Meanwhile, Seiya Suzuki's sacrifice fly and Michael Busch's run-scoring double drove the Cubs ahead early in the game.
The Dodgers' frustrations mounted as field conditions deteriorated, leading manager Dave Roberts to express his displeasure with the decision to stop the game.
Despite their best efforts, the Dodgers were unable to overcome the challenges posed by the adverse weather and the Cubs' resilient defense, leaving them discouraged by the result.
For the Dodgers, according to several media outlets, LD Walker Buehler, who is recovering from elbow surgery, showed promising performance during his second rehab start Saturday with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
For the Cubs, LD Julian Merryweather, will be sidelined due to a right shoulder strain and has been placed on the 15-day injured list.
In his place, Palencia has been recalled from Triple-A Iowa. In addition, LD Jameson Taillon, dealing with a lower back strain, began his rehab assignment Sunday with Double-A Tennessee.
Meanwhile, INF/OF Patrick Wisdom, out with a lower back strain, began his rehab stint with Iowa by playing third base on Saturday and serving as designated hitter on Sunday.