Cubs crush Red Sox 6-0 on July 20, 2025, with five homers. Shota Imanaga dominates for 7 scoreless innings while Michael Busch's leadoff shot sparks the win.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a Sunday slugfest at the Friendly Confines as the Cubs unleashed a five-homer barrage to dismantle the Boston Red Sox 6-0. The party started on the very first pitch Michael Busch saw, and the power display, combined with another masterful performance from ace Shota Imanaga, propelled the Cubs to a series win and the best record in Major League Baseball.
The Cubs are now a staggering 31-9 in games where they hit at least two home runs.
Manager Craig Counsell's latest lineup tweak paid immediate dividends. Moving Michael Busch to the leadoff spot against righty Brayan Bello proved to be a stroke of genius. Busch ambushed Bello's first offering, launching it into the bleachers to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead before many fans had even settled in. Not to be outdone, Kyle Tucker followed with a blast of his own, marking the 11th time this season the Cubs have gone back-to-back. The first-inning fireworks set a tone of dominance that the Red Sox could never overcome.
While the offense provided the shock and awe, Shota Imanaga provided the steady, unhittable brilliance we've come to expect. The lefty carved up the Red Sox lineup for seven scoreless innings, scattering five hits and striking out five without issuing a walk. His ERA now sits at a pristine 2.40 as he continues to build a rock-solid Cy Young case. With Brad Keller and Ryan Brasier locking down the final two innings, the Cubs' pitching staff completely neutralized a potent Boston offense.
The Cubs' offense was a one-trick pony on Sunday, but it was an incredibly effective trick. Despite going 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position, the long ball carried the day. After the first-inning outburst, the power returned late. Matt Shaw, another key rookie, connected for a pinch-hit solo shot in the seventh. To cap it all off, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Ian Happ hit back-to-back homers in the eighth, putting an exclamation point on the 6-0 victory. Five runs, five solo homers – a peculiar but decisive path to victory.
The success of rookies like PCA and Shaw is a double-edged sword for the Cubs' farm system, which recently dropped to No. 16 in Bleacher Report's rankings due to their graduations. However, the system remains loaded, with seven prospects in the Top 100. As the trade deadline looms, this depth becomes the organization's biggest asset. The front office faces tough decisions on players like Owen Caissie and Kevin Alcantara, who are prime trade chips. Meanwhile, 20-year-old infielder Jefferson Rojas was just promoted to Double-A, a move that simultaneously boosts his development and his trade value. The Cubs are in a position to win now and control the trade market, thanks to years of savvy drafting and development.
With the best record in baseball and a season-high 20 games over .500, the Cubs are firing on all cylinders. All eyes now turn to the front office as the trade deadline approaches. Will Jed Hoyer leverage the farm system's impressive depth to make a championship-pushing acquisition, or will he stand pat with this powerhouse roster? The next ten days will be as exciting off the field as the team is on it.
