Shota Imanaga outdueled Janson Junk on Friday to lead the Chicago Cubs to a 6-1 win over the host Miami Marlins.
The Cubs won their second straight game and took over the top spot in the National League wild-card standings, thanks to their starter. The Cubs’ left-hander dominated the Marlins, pitching into the seventh inning for the first time since July 31.
Imanaga (9-10) allowed one run on three hits and no walks over six-plus innings. He departed after Griffin Conine led off the seventh with a hard-hit single. Conine (2-for-4) scored on an Esteury Ruiz fielder’s choice in the seventh.
Cubs batters took advantage of Marlins relievers’ wildness, scoring three runs in the sixth and another in the seventh.
Jack Ralston walked three of the four batters he faced, and Josh Ekness followed by allowing another walk and two hits, as the Cubs broke open a one-run game. Only 12 of their 34 pitches were strikes in the decisive sixth.
Prior to that, Junk (6-9) nearly matched Imanaga over five innings. He allowed three hits and a walk, with the only run coming on a Pedro Ramirez fielder’s choice in the second inning. Junk retired 11 of the last 12 batters he faced.
Nico Hoerner went 3-for-4 with an RBI. Alex Bregman extended his hitting streak to eight thanks to a 2-for-4 night with a walk and a run scored and Michael Busch (1-for-4) added a ninth-inning solo home run, his 18th of the season.
Pete Crow-Armstrong (1-for-3, two runs and a stolen base) started the seventh with a double and eventually scored on a Bradley Blalock wild pitch. The Cubs center fielder also made a highlight-reel catch, leaping at the left-center field wall to rob Heriberto Hernandez of an extra-base hit in the sixth.
Aaron Civale, who relieved Imanaga in the seventh, suffered from some wildness as well. He allowed two two-out walks to load the bases in the inning but got pinch hitter Joe Mack looking at a curveball that dropped into the strike zone to end the threat.
Civale then retired the last six batters in order to earn his second save of the season.
