Imanaga pitches 7 solid innings as the Cubs beat the Cardinals 5-1

By JAY COHEN
AP Baseball Writer

CHICAGO (AP) — Shota Imanaga pitched seven effective innings and Ian Happ hit a three-run homer, helping the Chicago Cubs hold off the St. Louis Cardinals for a 5-1 win. Imanaga allowed one run and four hits in his second straight win. The Japanese left-hander also struck out six and walked none while improving to 3-0 with a 1.31 ERA in his first seven starts at Wrigley Field. Chicago had lost three of four and 15 of 21 overall. It was the team’s first win in four games against rival St. Louis this season. St. Louis finished with four hits. It had won three in a row and four of five overall to get back to .500.