Cubs Offense Disappears in Blowout Loss to Twins

Imanaga didn’t dominate the way he has in previous outings, but the lefty showed why he’s earned the trust of the Cubs staff. His fastball command was inconsistent early, and he had trouble finishing hitters with two strikes, yet he managed to limit the damage. He scattered five hits over six innings, allowing just two earned runs and striking out one.

It wasn’t Imanaga who lost the game; it was the offense.

Chicago managed just four hits the entire night, only one of them for extra bases. They didn’t record a single hit with runners in scoring position and failed to advance a runner past second base until the ninth. The top of the lineup, which has been surging lately, went silent. Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, and Pete Crow-Armstrong combined to go 1-for-11.

Eighth-Inning Collapse Ends It

The Cubs were still within striking distance heading into the bottom of the eighth, trailing 2–0. Then came the unraveling.

Porter Hodge entered and couldn’t miss barrels at all. The Twins strung together hit after hit, launching three home runs in the inning and plating six runs before the dust settled. It turned a quiet pitcher’s duel into a one-sided blowout in a matter of minutes.

By the time Justin Turner stepped to the plate in the top of the ninth, the game was already out of reach. Still, the veteran offered a moment worth remembering. Turner crushed a solo homer, his 200th career blast, to get the Cubs on the board and avoid a shutout.

Missed Opportunity

Tuesday’s loss stings not because of a single mistake or blowup, but because the Cubs wasted a perfectly winnable game. Imanaga gave them a chance. The bullpen, outside of the eighth, held it down. However, the bats, which had looked alive just days earlier, were nowhere to be found.

This is a team fighting to stay on top in the division, and games like this, where a quality start is wasted and the offense fails to show up, can pile up quickly.

What's On Tap Next for the Chicago Cubs

The Cubs will attempt to turn the series around Wednesday afternoon, with young right-handed pitcher Cade Horton on the mound. First pitch is set for 12:10 p.m. CT, and the game airs on Marquee Sports Network. With the All-Star break approaching and the standings tightening, Chicago can’t afford many more nights like this; they need to get back on track.