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July 19, 2026 · Series Win · Wrigley Blowout

Series Statement: Imanaga and Hoerner Power Cubs Past Twins 10-1

The Cubs did not just win the rubber match. They ended the first series after the All-Star break with a statement. Shota Imanaga threw seven shutout innings, Nico Hoerner drove in four, Alex Bregman started the scoring with a two-run homer, and Chicago rolled past Minnesota 10-1 at Wrigley Field.
Final
CHC 10 · MIN 1
Cubs win series
Imanaga
7 IP · 0 ER
Six hits, four strikeouts
Hoerner
4 RBI
Bases-loaded triple
Early Runs
10
All by the 4th
The Core StoryThe best way to win a series finale is to remove all doubt early. The Cubs scored two in the first, one in the second, four in the third and three more in the fourth. By the time Minnesota got on the board in the eighth, the game had already turned into one of Chicago's cleanest post-break performances.
1. Imanaga owned the afternoonShota Imanaga went seven scoreless innings, allowing six hits with one walk and four strikeouts.
2. Hoerner kept rollingNico Hoerner followed Saturday's four-hit game with two more hits and four RBI, including the bases-loaded triple that broke the game open.
3. The Cubs buried Minnesota earlyChicago scored in each of the first four innings and chased Zebby Matthews after he allowed nine hits and eight earned runs in three innings.

Imanaga Control Meter

Seven scoreless innings gave the Cubs total control.
7.0scorelessA stress-free start in a series-clincher.

Run Avalanche

The Cubs scored all 10 runs in the first four innings.
012341st2nd3rd4th

⏱ Visual Timeline Of Key Plays

Bottom 1st
Alex Bregman homers to left, scoring Seiya Suzuki and giving the Cubs a 2-0 lead.
Bottom 2nd
Carson Kelly singles to center, scoring Pedro Ramirez and extending the lead to 3-0.
Bottom 3rd
Nico Hoerner triples with the bases loaded, scoring Michael Busch, Bregman and Ian Happ to make it 6-0.
Bottom 3rd, continuing
Ramirez singles home Hoerner, pushing the lead to 7-0.
Bottom 4th
Busch singles, Bregman reaches on an error that scores Suzuki, and Hoerner adds another RBI single to make it 10-0.
Top 8th
Royce Lewis drives in Minnesota's only run on a sacrifice fly.
Final
Drew Pomeranz closes the ninth, and the Cubs finish a 10-1 series-clinching win.

🎯 Pitching Breakdown

Imanaga gave the Cubs exactly what they needed in the first Sunday after the All-Star break: length, calm and zero damage. He threw 99 pitches over seven scoreless innings, and the offense rewarded him immediately.

PitcherIPHERBBKAssessment
Shota Imanaga7.06014Series-clinching tone-setter, never let Minnesota stack pressure
Phil Maton1.02110Allowed the only Twins run in a low-leverage eighth
Drew Pomeranz1.00010Quiet ninth to finish the afternoon

🐻 Offensive Snapshot

The Cubs' lineup was relentless early. Bregman supplied the first blow, Busch collected three hits, Suzuki scored twice, Hoerner delivered the knockout triple, and Ramirez continued to provide productive contact from the DH spot.

PlayerLine / MomentImpact
Nico Hoerner2-for-5, 4 RBIBases-loaded triple broke the game open
Shota Imanaga7 IP, 0 ERControlled the entire afternoon
Alex Bregman2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, 2 RStarted the scoring with a first-inning homer
Michael Busch3-for-5, 2 R, RBISet up multiple crooked-number innings
Pedro Ramirez2-for-4, RBI, RExtended rallies and kept traffic moving

Friendly Confines Takeaway

The Cubs lost the opener, answered on Saturday, then dominated Sunday. That is exactly how a good team should come out of the break. The offense looked long, Imanaga looked sharp, and Hoerner's weekend turned into one of the clearest reasons to believe the second half can start with real momentum.

The Cubs did not just win the series. They made the finale feel settled by the fourth inning.

Bregman opened it.
Hoerner broke it open.
Imanaga owned it.

The second half has its first series win.

May Imanaga keep finding quiet innings.
May Hoerner keep turning contact into crooked numbers.
May Bregman's swing stay loud at Wrigley.
And may the Friendly Confines carry this series win into the next test.

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Sources used for game facts: ESPN/AP recap and box score, Bleacher Report game page, CBS Sports/AP recap, FOX Sports box score, ESPN UK box score, and Cubs Insider recap for Cubs 10, Twins 1 on July 19, 2026.