Michael Busch saves Shōta Imanaga’s electric start with a 427-foot home run originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
It was quite a night at the Friendly Confines on Tuesday.
Trying to tie the home series against the Padres, the puppies struck first in the fourth inning with a Cody Bellinger home run on his return to the field. He had not played since April 23 due to two broken ribs he suffered crashing into the back wall at Wrigley Field against the Astros.
The Padres scored two runs themselves in the eighth inning, but not before Christopher Morel launched a sacrifice fly to help tie the game. Héctor Neris came through with a scoreless appearance in the ninth inning. That gave Michael Busch a chance to come to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning.
And he complied.
In the pouring rain at Wrigley Field, Busch delivered an absolute bomb into the right field stands. He traveled 427 feet, according to the Marquee Sports Network broadcast.
It was a much-needed victory, especially after starter Shōta Imanaga kept the Padres quiet for seven innings. He allowed two earned runs in those seven innings, and also struck out eight batters in 102 pitches.
With a 1.08 ERA in seven career MLB starts, he joins the rare Cubs starters who have pitched below a 1.15 ERA in any seven-game stretch of their careers. Jake Arrieta (2015), Warren Hacker (1952) and Grover Alexander (1920) are the only three to eclipse that mark in that time period in Cubs history.
The Cubs will host the series finale on Wednesday. They will put Hayden Wesneski on the spot and face former Cubs draft pick Dylan Cease.