MINNEAPOLIS —
What started as a promising return for Shōta Imanaga turned into a nightmare inning for the Chicago Cubs.
The Minnesota Twins erupted for six runs in the eighth, flipping a close contest into a commanding 8–1 victory Tuesday night at Target Field. The late offensive surge buried any hopes of a Cubs comeback, overshadowing a major milestone for veteran Justin Turner, who crushed his 200th career home run—Chicago’s only offense of the night.
Imanaga, making his first start since returning from injury, looked sharp early but was eventually chased after surrendering multiple base runners in the seventh. The Cubs bullpen couldn’t stop the bleeding, as Minnesota pounced with three homers in a single inning, including a go-ahead blast by Royce Lewis.
Turner’s solo shot in the sixth briefly gave Chicago life, marking a historic moment in his 16-year MLB career. But the celebration was short-lived.
The Cubs, now hovering near .500, face mounting pressure with Jameson Taillon on the injured list and the trade deadline looming. With rotation depth stretched thin and the bullpen faltering, manager Craig Counsell may have some tough decisions ahead.
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