The Chicago Cubs now hold a 27-16 record following their fourth straight loss on Wednesday night. The club managed just four singles in a frustrating 4-1 defeat at the hands of the MLB-leading Atlanta Braves.
Purchase Tickets via Ticketmaster
MLB Game Recap
The Cubs lost 4-1 at Truist Park. The offense struggled to provide support. They scored their only run on a Nico Hoerner single in the fifth. Shota Imanaga delivered a stellar start. He pitched seven innings and allowed two earned runs and five hits. He struck out six on 96 pitches. Phil Maton then surrendered a go-ahead pinch-hit double and a two-run homer in the eighth. This late-inning collapse was the game’s turning point. The Cubs entered the frame tied 1-1. They had several impressive defensive plays earlier in the contest. The last two games highlighted the Braves’ elite backend of the Bullpen. Meanwhile, the Cubs are currently missing key components.
Standout Performer
Shota Imanaga was the hard-luck loser. He had an incredibly efficient outing. He shut down one of baseball’s best offenses for seven innings (7 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 K). Imanaga threw 96 pitches, and 64 of them were strikes. He effectively utilized a “sweeper” and a fastball. This kept hitters off-balance until an infield single leading off the eighth ended his night. Manager Craig Counsell described the performance as “awesome” and “wonderful,” lowering Imanaga’s season ERA to a sharp 2.32.
Key News & Notes
The Cubs have strengthened their bullpen depth. They signed 37-year-old veteran reliever Liam Hendriks to a minor league deal. He will report to the Arizona facility to ramp up. After that, he will likely join Triple-A Iowa. In injury news, Caleb Thielbar threw a successful live session on Wednesday. He is expected to begin a rehab assignment this weekend. He returns from a hamstring strain. Manager Craig Counsell noted the team is currently facing “bad ball luck” offensively. They are piling up pitch counts and creating action. However, they are missing the timely hits to capitalize.
Get Your Inside The Diamonds Merchandise Here
Farm Report
- Triple-A Iowa: Kevin Alcántara (1-4, HR, RBI) hit a solo home run. It was the Cubs’ only run in a 4-1 loss to the Nashville Sounds.
- Double-A Knoxville: Karson Simas (2-4, 2 2B, BB, RBI, 2 R) notched two doubles. He scored twice in a 9-5 loss to the Columbus Clingstones.
- High-A South Bend: Ty Southisene had an excellent game. He went 3-5 with a double, 3 RBI, a run, and 2 stolen bases. Despite his efforts, the team lost 11-6 to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.
- Low-A Myrtle Beach: Michael Carico (1-4, RBI) drove in the only run for the Pelicans. He hit a sixth-inning single in a 3-1 loss to the Augusta GreenJackets.
- Rookie ACL Cubs: No Game scheduled
Looking Ahead
