Shota Imanaga returned from the injured list to throw five innings of one-hit ball, lifting the Chicago Cubs to a 3-0 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Thursday for a split of a four-game series.
Michael Busch homered and singled and Carson Kelly also had two hits for the NL Central-leading Cubs.
St. Louis was shut out in back-to-back games for the first time this season. Five Chicago pitchers combined on a three-hitter.
Busch hit a 3-2 fastball from Andre Pallante (5-4) over the wall in right field in the second inning. He scored again in the fourth when Ian Happ drew a four-pitch, bases-loaded walk.
The Cardinals begin a three-game series at Cleveland on Friday with Sonny Gray (7-2, 3.72 ERA) facing the Guardians’ Luis Ortiz (4-8, 4.30), 5:15 with the pregame and the first pitch at 6:10 on KIRX.