Cubs Defeat Padres 3-1 in Exciting Home Opener Behind Imanaga’s Stellar Performance

CHICAGO, Ill. — Shota Imanaga delivered a brilliant performance on Friday, pitching 7 1/3 innings in the Chicago Cubs‘ 3-1 victory over the San Diego Padres during their 150th home opener at Wrigley Field.

A full crowd of 40,244 fans celebrated the start of the season, honoring Hall of Famers and enjoying the traditional singing of “Go, Cubs, Go” after the game. Imanaga’s performance mirrored his strong outing against the Colorado Rockies earlier this season, as he improved to 2-0 with an impressive 0.98 ERA.

The left-hander allowed just one run on four hits, his only mistake being a home run by Martin Maldonado in the third inning. A spectacular running catch by teammate Pete Crow-Armstrong in the second inning helped maintain momentum. Dansby Swanson‘s defensive play also thwarted a potential scoring opportunity for the Padres in the fifth.

“The crowd kept me locked in; I wanted to wake up to their cheers every morning,” Imanaga said through his interpreter, sharing his lighthearted take on the energy in the ballpark.

The Cubs took a critical lead in the fifth inning thanks to a two-out, pinch-hit infield single by Justin Turner, capitalizing on Seiya Suzuki‘s aggressive baserunning. “I’ll take the hit, but all the credit goes to Seiya. It’s about putting pressure on the defense early in the season,” Turner stated.

As the inning progressed, the Cubs added another run following a costly error by the Padres’ Manny Machado. With the win, the Cubs made it four consecutive victories, putting them at 6-4 on the season.

Tucker, a recent highlight for the Cubs, made his home debut and received a warm welcome from fans. Although he went 0-for-2, he walked twice and stole a base, showcasing his potential. “It’s awesome to be here,” he said.

The Cubs’ new manager, Craig Counsell, expressed confidence in his team as they navigated a unique season so far. “We’ve gone through a lot to get to this point, but we’re ready to compete,” he said.

Jed Hoyer, Cubs president, avoided discussing Tucker’s upcoming free agency. “We’ll focus on baseball right now,” he joked, emphasizing Tucker’s importance to the team’s lineup.

This home opener not only marked a significant milestone for the franchise but also showcased the team’s promising talent and strategic plays as they aim to improve upon recent seasons.