Cubs to 'dig into' reliever Porter Hodge's struggles vs. Twins

MINNEAPOLIS — Cubs reliever Porter Hodge struggled from his first pitch in the Cubs’ 8-1 loss to the Twins on Tuesday.

The Cubs were already trailing when he entered the game, but it got out of hand as he allowed six runs in one-third of an inning in the eighth.

“We’ve got to dig into that one,” manager Craig Counsell said, “because we, frankly, haven’t seen that with Porter.”

Hodge said he hadn’t felt in rhythm since returning from the injured list. But in his previous four appearances since returning, he’d only allowed one run. His velocity has been down, and it was 1 mph lower Tuesday than his season average. He said he felt good physically.

“I just think we need to go a little internal to see what’s making me not be so sharp,” he said. “It’s just something mechanical that’s probably going on.”

Hodge walked Byron Buxton on five pitches to lead off the eighth. Then in Hodge’s next three pitches, he surrendered home runs to Ryan Jeffers and Willi Castro.

Some bad luck, paired with hard contact, exacerbated Hodge’s struggles. Left fielder Ian Happ came inches away from making a spectacular diving catch, but Carlos Correa’s line-drive double tipped off the end of his glove.

Then shortstop Dansby Swanson couldn’t quite handle a sharp one-hopper, giving Royce Lewis an RBI single.

Harrison Bader drove a hung slider into the stands for the Twins’ third home run of the inning. Hodge finally recorded an out by striking out Ty France.

With the game out of hand, Hodge was replaced by infielder Jon Berti.

Quality start for Imanaga

Cubs starter Shota Imanaga gave up three sharp ground-ball hits and one fly ball in the first inning, and those equated to two runs.

But they were the only runs he allowed in six innings.

He only allowed two more hits, both singles.

“He’s pitching like Shota does,” Counsell said of Imanaga’s first three starts back from a seven-week IL stint.

“And I don’t think he’s as good as he can be yet, but he’s getting people out.”

Thielbar welcomed back

Before the game, the Twins honored Cubs left-handed reliever Caleb Thielbar for his eight seasons with Minnesota with a tribute video as he looked on from the visitors’ dugout.

He staged two career comebacks with the team, one leading up to his major-league debut in 2013, and the other reviving his career in 2020 after a four-year hiatus.

The 38-year-old entered the game with a 1.89 ERA. Then he threw a scoreless seventh inning.

Turner hits milestone

The Cubs managed six hits and didn’t score until the ninth.

Justin Turner provided their only run, a solo shot that was the 200th home run of his career.

“It’s pretty crazy,” Turner said. “Early on in my career, didn’t even think that was a number that would even be close to attainable. So pretty proud of it. But, obviously, wish it was a little more meaningful as far as the game goes.”