The Chicago Cubs let another strong start from Shota Imanaga slip away Friday, as the offense failed to turn his work into a win against the New York Yankees. The left-hander reportedly allowed only four hits, giving Chicago the kind of outing that usually keeps a team in position to win.
Imanaga did have to deal with the long ball again, which remains an important part of the story from this start. Still, the damage was limited to two solo home runs, a sign that he largely kept the Yankees from putting together bigger innings.
That left the spotlight on the Cubs lineup, which could not provide enough support despite getting more than enough from its starter. When a pitcher delivers a low-hit performance and limits scoring chances, the expectation is that the offense will do the rest. In this game, that support never arrived.
The broader Chicago Cubs news roundup also referenced Ramirez and Amaya, but the clearest takeaway from Friday was Imanaga's missed opportunity for a deserved result. Chicago got a four-hit outing against a high-profile opponent and still came away with frustration instead of a win.
