Imanaga dominant on mound, Paredes has a homer and 4 RBIs and Cubs top Twins 7-3

CHICAGO, IL – Shota Imanaga delivered a stellar performance, allowing just two hits over seven innings, while Isaac Paredes hit a three-run homer—his first with the Cubs—as Chicago defeated the Minnesota Twins 7-3 on Tuesday night.

Imanaga, who retired the first 10 batters he faced, issued his only walk of the game before giving up a two-run homer to Royce Lewis. Despite this, the Cubs managed to snap the Twins’ five-game winning streak. The 30-year-old left-hander struck out 10 batters, including nine swinging, matching his career high. Imanaga (9-2) attributes his increased strikeout rate to an improved split-finger fastball, having notched 30 strikeouts in his last four starts.

Paredes, acquired from Tampa Bay in a trade on July 28, contributed significantly with two hits and four RBIs. Dansby Swanson also played a key role, with three hits including a run-scoring triple in the sixth inning, helping the Cubs secure their fifth win in seven games. Paredes had struggled initially, batting just .111 with three hits in his first seven games with Chicago.

Imanaga also faced a challenge from rookie Brooks Lee, who doubled into the gusty wind blowing in from center field at Wrigley Field. Christian Vázquez added a solo homer off reliever Drew Smyly in the eighth inning.

Minnesota starter Pablo López (10-8) allowed four runs on seven hits over five innings. The Twins fell four games behind the rain-delayed first-place Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central but remained in the second AL wild card spot.

Paredes put the Cubs ahead 3-0 with his 17th homer of the season in the first inning. In the third inning, Michael Busch scored from first base on Paredes’ bloop single, extending the lead to 4-0. The Twins’ first baserunner, Carlos Santana, walked with one out in the fourth, and Lewis hit a high inside fastball from Imanaga to bring the score to 4-2.

Imanaga retired the next five batters before Lee doubled to lead off the sixth. The Cubs extended their lead to 6-2 in the sixth inning with Swanson’s triple and Randy Dobnak’s wild pitch that allowed Swanson to score. Rookie Pete Crow-Armstrong added a run with a single in the eighth.

**UP NEXT:** The Twins’ Joe Ryan (7-7, 3.59 ERA) will face the Cubs’ Javier Assad (5-3, 3.19 ERA) in the series finale on Wednesday.

(Photo courtesy of Twins/MLB)