Shota Imanaga and two Cubs relievers combined on a no-hitter, leading Chicago over the Pittsburgh Pirates 12-0 on Wednesday night.

Imanaga (12-3), a 31-year-old left-hander in his first season with the Cubs after pitching in Japan for eight seasons, struck out seven and walked two over seven innings. He threw 66 of 95 pitches for strikes.

He needed 25 pitches to get through the second inning. His season high is 103 pitches against St. Louis on June 15. Imanaga has not gotten an out in the eighth inning.

Imanaga agreed in January to a $53 million, four-year contract. Chicago paid a $9,825,000 posting fee to the Yokohama BayStars of Japan’s Central League.

Nate Pearson pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning and Porter Hodge a perfect ninth in the Cubs’ 18th no-hitter, the first since Zach Davies, Ryan Tepera, Andrew Chafin and Craig Kimbrel combined to hold Los Angeles hitless at Dodger Stadium on June 24, 2021.

Chicago players celebrated when shortstop Dansby Swanson threw to first baseman Michael Busch for the final out on Oneil Cruz’s grounder, but were more muted than during celebrations after individual no-hitters.

Chicago had not pitched a no-hitter at Wrigley Field since Milt Pappas against San Diego on Sept. 2, 1972 — Pappas was one pitch from a perfect game when Bruce Froemming called ball four on a full-count pitch to Larry Stahl. Garry Jestadt then popped out.

This was the fourth no-hitter this season after complete-game efforts by Houston’s Ronel Blanco against Toronto on April 1, San Diego’s Dylan Cease at Washington on July 25 and San Francisco’s Blake Snell at Cincinnati on April 2.

Nico Hoerner, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Dansby Swanson each had three of Chicago’s 17 hits, with Swanson and Crow-Armstrong both finishing a triple shy of the cycle.

Domingo Germán (0-1), who pitched a perfect game last year for the New York Yankees against Oakland, allowed seven runs — six earned — and nine hits in three innings.

Yankees go to closer by committee

Clay Holmes won’t be the automatic choice as the closer for the New York Yankees in the short term after giving up a game-ending grand slam to the Texas Rangers for his major league-high 11th blown save this season.

Manager Aaron Boone said Wednesday the club will consider several options, Holmes included, while continuing to support the two-time All-Star coming off a rough outing.

Rookie Wyatt Langford’s grand slam followed a single by Carson Kelly and consecutive walks to Josh Smith and Marcus Semien, giving the Rangers a 7-4 victory on Tuesday night.

Schwarber matches leadoff homer mark

Kyle Schwarber matched a major league record with his 13th leadoff home run this season in Philadelphia’s 4-2 win over the Blue Jays on Wednesday in Toronto.

A day after hitting three home runs, Schwarber went deep for the fourth time in seven at-bats and got his sixth hit in that span when he drove a 1-0 pitch from right-hander Bowden Francis into the second deck in right, matching Alfonso Soriano’s total.

The 416-foot drive was Schwarber’s 32nd home run of the season and he matched Brady Anderson for ninth with 44 leadoff homers. Hall of Famer Rickey Henderson leads with 81.

Briefly

RANGERS >> Corey Seager was put on the 10-day injured list because of right hip discomfort that could end the All-Star shortstop’s third season with Texas.

Phillies >> Bryce Harper left Wednesday’s game at Toronto after being hit on the left elbow by a pitch. Harper winced in pain after he was struck by a 92 mph fastball from Bowden Francis in the first inning.