CHICAGO - Shota Imanaga surrendered six runs over six-plus innings but avoided taking a loss with help from compatriot Seiya Suzuki as the Chicago Cubs walked off with a 7-6 win against the Athletics on Thursday.
Suzuki pinch-hit a clutch single before coming home for the winning run on Pete Crow-Armstrong's walk-off single during a four-run Chicago rally in the bottom of the ninth inning at Wrigley Field.
Imanaga started sharply and allowed minimal early traffic but eventually left with the Cubs trailing 6-1 after giving up successive home runs to Tyler Soderstrom and Jonah Heim with none out in the seventh.
"I was trying to figure out how I wanted to attack their lineup the third time through, but it didn't work," said Imanaga, who had five strikeouts, six hits and one walk. "I'm really thankful for my teammates."
The Japanese left-hander allowed four home runs in total, including a two-run, inside-the-park homer to Shea Langeliers with two out in the sixth after Crow-Armstrong lost track of his high fly ball under the lights in center field.
Crow-Armstrong made amends by delivering the walk-off single that staved off a series sweep following back-to-back Athletics victories.
The Cubs had cut the deficit to 6-5 but were down to their last out when Suzuki stepped to the plate for the first time after starting the game on the bench.
The Japanese slugger ripped a grounder to left field, advancing a runner to second. He reached third on Dansby Swanson's game-tying, ground-ball single before scoring on Crow-Armstrong's fly to right field.
