Shota Imanaga made another stellar start as he helped the Chicago Cubs blow out the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-1 in a rain-delayed game Sunday.
The Japanese lefty struck out three and allowed only two hits over four scoreless innings before the skies opened in the home half of the fourth at Wrigley Field, interrupting play for nearly three hours.
Imanaga struck out Shohei Ohtani swinging in the top of the first as the two World Baseball Classic-winning Samurai Japan teammates faced off for the first time in the United States.
"He gave it a powerful swing and was probably close to connecting for a home run," Imanaga said. "I'm glad we were able to keep him in check and get the win."
The 30-year-old Imanaga's second Major League Baseball outing followed an outstanding debut in which he flirted with a no-hitter in a 5-0 win over the Colorado Rockies on Monday.
Through his first two MLB starts, the former DeNA BayStars standout has fanned 12, walked none and given up only four hits in 10 scoreless innings.
The Cubs took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first on Michael Busch's three-RBI double. Seiya Suzuki made it 4-0 the next inning with a sacrifice fly.
Ohtani finished 2-for-4, hitting a triple in the sixth and driving in the Dodgers' only run with a double in the eighth.
