Shota Imanaga tossed seven shutout innings and five players hit solo home runs Saturday, carrying the Chicago Cubs to a 6-0 win over the Boston Red Sox.

The impact of Imanaga’s return to the Cubs rotation can’t be overstated. The lefty missed nearly two months after straining a hamstring in early May. While the team continued to play good baseball, it’s clear that Imanaga, when he’s at his best, makes this team look all the more dangerous.

All-Star Pete Crow-Armstrong hit his 26th homer, one of five solo shots for the Cubs to back seven sharp innings by Shota Imanaga, and Chicago beat the Boston Red Sox 6-0.

The Chicago Cubs roll into Saturday’s Game 2 of their weekend series against the Boston Red Sox with a chance to surge into the second half of the season with a clinched series win.

With Kyle Tucker months away from free agency, the Chicago Cubs are facing their most important trade deadline in years, and president Jed Hoyer seems to fully understand the urgency of the moment.