PITTSBURGH — Hayden Wesneski was immaculate. 

In the bottom of the 5th inning Thursday night at PNC Park, the rookie struck out the side on 9 pitches, becoming the first Cub to throw an immaculate inning since LaTroy Hawkins on September 11, 2004 against the Marlins.

It’s the 5th immaculate inning in Cubs history — Lynn McGlothen threw one against the Giants on August 25, 1979, Bruce Sutter did it on September 8, 1977 and Milt Pappas had one on September 24, 1971 against the Phillies. 

Jack Suwinski was the first strikeout victim, fouling off a pitch, then taking a called strike on a changeup and striking out looking on a back-door slider. Zack Collins took a first pitch changeup for a strike, then swung and missed on a slider down and was called out on a slider low in the zone.

Jason Delay swung and missed on a cutter and took a called strike on a slider down the middle of the plate. Delay swung at a low and outside slider for the final strike, prompting Wesneski to trot off the mound and pointed to catcher Yan Gomes in celebration. 

“Yan have you ever caught one of those?” Wesneski asked him. 

Gomes’ answer cut some of the wind in Wesneski’s sail. 

“I was like, ‘I feel like I have. I don’t know how many it was, but I know I’ve got a couple,’” Gomes replied. “I probably should have just let him have it, like ‘yeah, bro it was my first one!’”

Watch all 9 strikes in the video above.