CHICAGO — Shota Imanaga pitched seven innings and Ian Happ hit a three-run homer, helping the Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 5-1 on Saturday.
Imanaga allowed one run and four hits in his second straight victory. The Japanese left-hander struck out six and walked none, improving to 3-0 with a 1.31 ERA in his first seven starts at Wrigley Field.
The rookie finished with 103 pitches, 69 of them for strikes.
Chicago (34-37) had lost three of four and 15 of 21. It was the team’s first win in four games against rival St. Louis this season.
The Cardinals threatened in the seventh, putting runners on first and second with one out, but Imanaga (7-1) retired Dylan Carlson on a fly ball and struck out Brendan Donovan, preserving a 2-1 lead.
The losing pitcher was St. Louis right-hander Andre Pallante (2-3).
The Cardinals (34-35) finished with four hits. He had won three in a row and four of five to get back to .500.
For the Cardinals, Panamanian Iván Herrera 3-1.
