Rawlings officials were in town Saturday to drop off some spiffy Gold Glove awards to three Chicago Cubs players.
Left fielder Ian Happ, center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and second baseman Nico Hoerner each accepted the bright and shiny trophies before the Cubs played host to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field.
Shortstop Dansby Swanson, who won Gold Glove awards in 2022 and 2023, did not win one last season. He did, however, play like he wanted to add a third to his collection during a 2-0 victory in front of 36,907 at Wrigley Field.
Photos: Chicago Cubs beat Arizona Diamondbacks 2-0 at Wrigley Field
Swanson was credited with nine assists, including running in on some slow rollers, getting to balls headed up the middle, making some dazzling spin moves and showing grace under pressure to help the Cubs (21-12) win their 14th of 17 games overall and 10th straight home game.
“We’ve seen it a million times,” Cubs reliever Ben Brown said of Swanson’s wizardry. “But that doesn’t diminish how good his plays are.”
Swanson modestly called it “a lot of fun.”
“We needed every out,” the veteran said.
“We’ve seen it before plenty of times,” Happ said of Swanson. “It never surprises me. His ability to make so many different plays was on display today. It never ceases to amaze me.”
Happ provided the offense with his team-leading eighth home run in the second inning and triple in the eighth that led to him scoring on Seiya Suzuki’s sacrifice fly. The switch hitter was 3-for-3 with an intentional walk and was a single shy of hitting for the cycle.
“I haven’t hit the ball left-handed for a stretch there and I hit a few balls hard,” Happ said. “They were off of three different pitches too. That gives me a lot of confidence.”
Cubs left fielder Ian Happ rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run in the second inning against the Diamondbacks on May 2, 2026, at Wrigley Field. (Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune)
Shota Imanaga (3-2) and Brown combined for the team’s second shutout of the season. Imanaga allowed four hits in seven innings with a walk and five strikeouts. Brown pitched two innings for his second career save.
The two were able to shut down Diamondbacks switch-hitting first baseman Ildemaro Vargas, who entered the game with a 27-game hitting streak dating to September. He also entered the game hitting a major-league-best .414 but was 0-for-4, including a pair of groundouts to Swanson.
Imanaga, who had a tough second half of 2025, has had two rough outings this season. But in his other five starts he twirled masterpieces. He allowed three earned runs on 13 hits with five walks and 30 strikeouts in 31 innings in those five outings.
“I don’t feel like I’m a final product, yet,” Imanaga said through an interpreter. “Each year there is room to evolve and become a better pitcher.
“Looking back at my 11-year professional career (eight in Japan and three with the Cubs), every year I try to get better, and the next game is always the most important game.”
Chicago Cubs catcher Miguel Amaya pats the back of starting pitcher Shota Imanaga as he leaves the field in the eighth inning of a game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Wrigley Field in Chicago on May 2, 2026. (Josh Boland/Chicago Tribune)
With starter Cade Horton out for the season and Justin Steele’s anticipated return delayed, having Imanaga dominate will be vital for the Cubs as they are anticipating a big season.
The Cubs entered the game tied with the Cincinnati Reds for first place in the National League Central, a division in which all five teams have winning records.
As the season progresses, that’s bound to change. But for now, it has been fun for fans to watch, although Cubs manager Craig Counsell questions the use of the word “fun.”
“You can call it fun — I call it something else,” he said. “It’s been very competitive. The teams are showing they are all competitive. That’s what’s happening.”
Injury report
The Cubs are hoping Hoerner will return Sunday after exiting in the second inning of the series opener Friday with neck tightness. He did not play Saturday.
“He’s better but still feeling it,” Counsell said before Saturday’s game. “We’re hoping for (Sunday). He ran around a little bit and took some swings and it’s just there enough where we would give him another day.”
Cubs closer Daniel Palencia could be back Sunday or early in the week after he completed a rehab assignment Saturday.
Palencia, who has been nursing a strained oblique and has been on the injured list since April 14, threw two-thirds of an inning for Triple-A Iowa at St. Paul and hit 102 mph on one pitch.
Counsell said that if all goes well for Palencia after Saturday, the right-hander could be activated within days. Counsell added that the bullpen has done well in Palencia’s absence with Caleb Thielbar (who is now in the IL), Riley Martin, Hoby Milner, Jacob Webb and Brown notching saves.
“Look, our bullpen has been doing a good job,” Counsell said. “We’ve done the job. Bullpens can be fickle. Obviously we’re getting a player that we believe in and who has pitched really big innings for us, and getting healthy helps every team.”
Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.