As Shota Imanaga witnessed Christopher Morel’s spectacular defensive plays on Saturday night, he couldn’t help but imagine a celebratory moment, the traditional ‘kataguruma’ with Morel on his shoulders.

The Cubs’ pitcher, now a part of baseball history with his latest performance, has been a standout story in the early season, displaying his elite skills and remarkable adaptability in his first three Major League starts.

Imanaga’s 5 1/3 innings against the Mariners were flawless in terms of earned runs, marking him as the first Cubs pitcher since at least 1913 to start his career with three straight appearances of at least four innings pitched without allowing an earned run.

“The way he handles himself, the type of person he is, it’s all been great,” remarked Cubs reliever Mark Leiter Jr. “And then, obviously, the pitcher that he is has really been a joy to watch.”

Scoreless streak ends

The 30-year-old lefty gave up one unearned run, due to a fielding error, along with five hits and four strikeouts. He ended a streak of 56 batters faced without a walk in his MLB career.

Imanaga’s achievements from the game include:

• Joining a select group with Andrew Abbott (2023) and Luis Gil (2021) as the only pitchers to start their careers with three outings of four-plus innings and no earned runs.
• Being among a historic few, including Bernie Boland (1915), to have no earned runs in each of their first three career starts.
• Becoming the first Cubs pitcher since Cole Hamels in 2019 to have at least a three-game streak in the same season without allowing an earned run.

Throughout his outing, Imanaga noted Seattle’s approach and adjusted accordingly. “They had a plan and they were making adjustments,” Imanaga remarked. “I noticed they weren’t swinging at the splitter.”

Imanaga, with a 0.00 ERA through 15 1/3 innings, adapted by relying on his fastball when the Mariners refused to chase his splitter. His precision was evident as he generated more grounders than usual.

Morel’s defensive heroics, including a diving snag and a leaping catch, helped preserve Imanaga’s scoreless streak. Manager Craig Counsell highlighted Morel’s impact: “That changes the game right there. It’s definitely a really big defensive game for Christopher.”

Imanaga, reflecting on the victory, credited Morel’s defensive prowess: “With his defense, we were able to win.”

The Cubs, propelled by Imanaga’s historic start and Morel’s game-saving plays, secured a 4-1 victory over the Mariners in a thrilling match that showcased both the pitcher’s talent and the third baseman’s defensive brilliance.