Chicago Cubs Score and Recap (4/10/26): Pirates 2, Cubs 0 – Imanaga Masterpiece Wasted
The Cubs squandered an excellent starting pitching effort on Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field against the Pirates. They repeatedly stranded runners on base and suffered a shutout loss, already their second of the season at home, to their divisional rival.
Shōta Imanaga was on the mound for Chicago and was literally unhittable, allowing only a walk in six scoreless frames. The home team also failed to scratch the scoresheet against Pittsburgh starter Carmen Mlodzinski, despite plenty of traffic on the bases.
Caleb Thielbar came on for the North Siders in the 7th inning after Imanaga got to 100 pitches. Bryan Reynolds took full advantage against the left-handed reliever, hitting a two-run go-ahead homer to put the Pirates in front 2-0.
The Cubs got additional men on base in the final couple of innings, but once again failed to get them home as they went down to defeat in shutout fashion. (Box score)
Key Moment
Chicago got the first two runners on base in the bottom of the 6th and eventually loaded the bases with two out. They struck out three times and did not get anyone home in the frame.
Why the Cubs Lost
They went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and stranded 11 men on base.
Stats That Matter
- Imanaga deserved a much better fate than he got: 6 IP, 0 R, 0 H, 9 K, and 1 BB.
- Carson Kelly reached four times with three walks and a single.
- Matt Shaw stranded five men on base in just two at-bats.
Bottom Line
That was an incredibly frustrating loss for the Cubs, with a lights-out pitching performance going for naught. Offensive consistency is still elusive for Chicago, and that’s going to have to change for them to start winning more often.
On Deck
Game two of the series is Saturday afternoon at 1:20pm CT. Edward Cabrera is on the hill against Braxton Ashcraft in a matchup available on Marquee with a radio feed on The Score.
