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July 25, 2026 · Blowout Win · Depth Showcase

Depth Party in Pittsburgh: Cubs Bury Pirates 11-0 Behind PCA, Imanaga, and the Bench

The stars opened the door, and the depth walked through it. Pete Crow-Armstrong put together a monster night, Shōta Imanaga gave the Cubs six shutout innings, Javier Assad finished the final three, and Chicago's bench pieces got meaningful late-game moments in an 11-0 win over Pittsburgh.
Final
CHC 11 · PIT 0
Series clinched
PCA
4-for-5
HR, 2 2B, 3 RBI, SB
Imanaga
6 IP · 0 ER
4 H, 4 K, 1 BB
Bench Moment
Triantos
First MLB hit
The Core StoryPaul Skenes made the matchup feel like a test. The Cubs turned it into a statement. After four scoreless innings, Chicago broke through in the fifth, exploded in the sixth, and eventually created enough separation for Craig Counsell to get reserves into the game while preserving the bullpen with Javier Assad's three-inning save.
1. PCA beat the acePete Crow-Armstrong went 4-for-5 with a homer, two doubles, three RBI, three runs and a stolen base.
2. Imanaga stayed steadyShōta Imanaga threw six scoreless innings, keeping the game calm until the offense erupted.
3. Depth got rewardedWith the lead stretched wide, James Triantos collected his first MLB hit and Pedro Ramirez added an RBI double.

PCA Star Meter

Crow-Armstrong drove the offense and put the game away.
4-5HR, two doubles, three RBI, stolen base.

Bench & Depth Dashboard

The blowout gave the Cubs a chance to use players who normally do not carry the nightly spotlight.
Triantos1stMLB hitRamirezRBIdouble in 8thAmaya2 RBItwo runsAssad3 IPsaveHidden value: rest for regulars, experience for reserves, and bullpen protection.

⏱ Visual Timeline Of Key Plays

Top 5th
Pete Crow-Armstrong doubles to deep center, scoring Dansby Swanson and putting the Cubs ahead 1-0.
Top 5th, continuing
Seiya Suzuki singles to right, scoring Crow-Armstrong and Miguel Amaya to make it 3-0.
Top 6th
Dansby Swanson doubles home Nico Hoerner, then Amaya and Michael Busch each drive in two as the Cubs stretch the lead to 8-0.
Top 7th
Crow-Armstrong homers to right field, scoring Pedro Ramirez and making it 10-0.
Top 8th
James Triantos scores on Pedro Ramirez's double after recording his first major-league hit earlier in the inning.
Final
Javier Assad finishes three scoreless innings for the save, and the Cubs win 11-0.

🌟 Players Who Got Their Moment

Because the Cubs built such a large lead, the final innings became a showcase for depth players and role contributors. These are the nights that help keep a roster connected across a long season.

PlayerRole / OpportunityContribution
James TriantosLate-game reserveRecorded first MLB hit and scored in the eighth
Pedro RamirezDH / depth batRBI double in the eighth; also part of the seventh-inning scoring
Miguel AmayaCatcher, lower-order productionTwo RBI, two runs, reached multiple times
Kevin AlcantaraLate-game outfield depthEntered after the game became lopsided, giving regulars rest
Javier AssadMulti-inning reliefThree scoreless innings, three strikeouts, save

🎯 Pitching Breakdown

Shōta Imanaga gave the Cubs six shutout innings and never let Pittsburgh gain momentum. Assad then delivered the perfect blowout finish: three scoreless innings that avoided burning the late-inning bullpen during a 17-games-in-17-days stretch.

PitcherIPHERBBKAssessment
Shōta Imanaga6.04014Controlled the Skenes matchup and set the tone
Javier Assad3.01003Saved the bullpen and closed a combined shutout
Paul Skenes5.1—5—11Dominant early, but the Cubs broke through late in his outing

🐻 Offensive Snapshot

The blowout belonged to the whole lineup, but PCA was the engine. Chicago produced 16 hits, scored in four straight innings from the fifth through eighth, and turned a pitcher's duel into a scoreboard avalanche.

PlayerLine / MomentImpact
Pete Crow-Armstrong4-for-5, HR, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 3 R, SBPlayer of the game and offensive engine
Seiya Suzuki2-run singleTurned 1-0 into 3-0 in the fifth
Dansby SwansonDouble, run production, multiple times on baseHelped ignite the sixth-inning avalanche
Michael Busch2-run singleHelped push the lead to 8-0
Miguel Amaya2 RBI, 2 RDepth production from the lower third

Friendly Confines Takeaway

The Cubs did more than win. They beat an elite arm, secured the series, gave key players rest, got a rookie his first hit, and protected the bullpen. That is the kind of blowout that has value beyond the final score.

The stars made the lead. The depth made the night feel complete.

PCA owned the spotlight.
Imanaga controlled the game.
Triantos got the keepsake.
Assad saved the bullpen.

That is what a complete team win looks like.

May every rookie get a first hit.
May every bench player stay ready.
May every contender find strength beyond its stars.
And may the Cubs keep turning depth into victories as the race continues.

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Sources used for game facts: Bleacher Nation enhanced box score, The Athletic box score, Cubs Insider recap, and MLB Cubs official scoreboard for Cubs 11, Pirates 0 on July 25, 2026.