Chicago Cubs win 7th consecutive game behind Seiya Suzuki and Michael Busch in a 7-4 victory

Imanaga became the first Cubs starter to complete seven innings this season.

“It really helps with my confidence too, knowing that behind me the Cubs’ defense, that’s the best of all 30 teams,” Imanaga said through interpreter Edwin Stanberry. “So if I can control and avoid damage and extra-base hits, I know they’re going to get outs so it’s a big confidence booster.”

Suzuki, in his 11th game since coming off the IL, slugged his first home run of the year and just his second extra-base hit in 39 plate appearances. Suzuki’s long ball was part of a three-run seventh, which helped give the Cubs a five-run cushion. Nico Hoerner also went deep in the frame for his fourth home run; he didn’t reach that mark until July 29 last year.

Suzuki’s early struggles aren’t terribly alarming. The knee injury he sustained during the World Baseball Classic contributed to Suzuki getting just four at-bats in spring training and only 14 more during his rehab assignment before the Cubs activated him. Counsell thought Suzuki’s at-bats looked good from the onset of Tuesday’s game and felt the swings in his first at-bat were a great sign.

“The swing itself was really good,” Suzuki said through Stanberry. “I think in the last week there’s been some ups and downs. Communicating, talking to the hitting coaches about what I need to work on, whether it’s mechanics or timing, I think that communication and just kind of looking at what I need to do better with myself, I think that’s helped a lot.

“When I step up in the box and I’m ready to go on that first pitch, that’s when I’m feeling locked in. I think sometimes when it’s not going well, I might be in between. But just come up with a game plan, stick with the game plan and then try to execute that.”

Photos: Chicago Cubs 7, Philadelphia Phillies 4

Busch’s bloop single to center field with the bases loaded against Phillies lefty Tanner Banks brought home two runs to put the Cubs back ahead, 3-1, in the sixth. Busch believes he is starting to take better swings at the pitches he wants, even though the results aren’t fully there yet.

“I didn’t think I had terrible at-bats tonight,” Busch said. “Sometimes trying to be a little too perfect on getting the exact pitch and the exact location instead of sometimes trusting my ability is something that has helped me a little bit.”

Although the run didn’t ultimately play a huge role in the outcome, Moisés Ballesteros’ pinch-hit opportunity again showed why the Cubs think so highly of the 22-year-old rookie. Following Dansby Swanson’s second of a season-high three walks, Phillies reliever Orion Kerkering got two strikes on Ballesteros with the bases loaded in the scoreless fifth. Ballesteros took the next three pitches, fouled off a tough sweeper down in the zone and earned a run-scoring walk by taking a low 98.2 mph fastball.

At one point during the full-count sequence, with the 30,651 fans roaring, Ballesteros could be heard from the dugout yelling, “No!” at the incoming pitch as he took it for a ball. Ballesteros’ poise in that situation, not trying to do too much, is a big part of what makes him special, and it didn’t go unnoticed by the Cubs.

“It was a cool moment. It’s the fifth inning of an April game, and Wrigley is on its feet and enjoying it and he had a great at-bat, he really locked in,” Counsell said. “To get down 0-2 and draw a walk there, foul off a couple pitches, that’s a darn good at-bat.”