ST. LOUIS -- Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga pitched five scoreless innings against the Cardinals on Thursday, helping Chicago to a 3-0 victory in his return from a strained left hamstring that had sidelined him since May 4.
The Cubs split the four-game series, shutting out the Cardinals in the final two games.
"I'm very grateful," Imanaga said through an interpreter. "I just wanted to even the series."
Imanaga, a 31-year-old from Japan in his second season with Chicago, was activated from the 15-day injured list to pitch against the Cardinals.