Cubs Get Last Laugh in 2-1 Win Over Diamondbacks

The first series out of the All-Star break hadn't been going swimmingly for the Chicago Cubs. Lacking offensive produce has left the pitching staff on the hook for losses — a trend that has carried over from the first half of the season.

Sunday's contest against the Arizona Diamondbacks looked like more of the same until it wasn't. Shota Imanaga was dealing and his offense wasn't helping like it should. The Cubs took it down to the wire but ultimately prevailed in extra innings.

Losing the series against the Diamondbacks wasn't ideal, but avoiding the sweep is the lesser of two evils for a Cubs' team trying to make some noise.

Tale of the Tape

Whenever Shota Imanaga takes on the mound, the Cubs have a good chance to win. The lefty was masterful on Sunday, fanning 10 hitters through seven innings. His only hiccup was Eugenio Suarez's solo home run.

The Diamondbacks had one more hit on the afternoon as the bullpen bridge of Mark Leiter Jr. and Porter Hodge was excellent.

Down 1-0 in the ninth inning, the Cubs needed a rally. Imanaga had too good of a start to let go by the wayside.

A leadoff double from Nico Hoerner was a great way to start things off. With one out, Seiya Suzuki produced a clutch RBI single to finally tie things up.

With a win staring them in the face, the Cubs went for it. Hector Neris pitched a scoreless 10th inning, setting up a walk-off scenario.

The Cubs were gifted the bases loaded with only one out in the extra frame. They've previously squandered such opportunities, but Nico Hoerner drew a walk to plate the winning run.

Takeaways

This game was exactly what the Cubs needed to turn things around. It was an unusual walk-off but it resulted in a win nonetheless. Shota Imanaga may have gotten a no-decision but his efforts shouldn't go unnoticed.

Despite all the bad that 2024 has brought, Imanaga remains one of the North Siders' brightest stars. All eyes were on Yoshinobu Yamamoto in the offseason, but the Cubs were stealthy in their choice of who to sign.

Yamamoto has been hurt and Imanaga was an All-Star this season. While the jury may still be out, the early returns and contract values present a better picture for the Cubs.

What's On Tap Next?

The Cubs will be back at it again at Wrigley Field on Monday. This time, they're in for a divisional battle with the Milwaukee Brewers. Javier Assad will take the mound against Brewers' rookie Tobias Myers. First pitch is at 7:05 PM CT and the game will air on Marquee Sports Network.

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