LOS ANGELES– A night that started with a crowning achievement blast in the first inning became history on the mound at Dodger Stadium. Chicago starter Zach Davies set the tone with 6 clean innings, followed by Ryan Tepera, Andrew Chafin and Craig Kimbrel for the Cubs first combined no-hitter in franchise history.
The offense continued to flash its home-run power in the 4-0 success through long balls from Javier Báez and Willson Contreras, but Chicagos pitching was the primary star under the Strawberry Moon that cascaded over Chavez Ravine.
Davies first inning elevated his pitch count to 24 after he faced 5 batters, highlighted by an eight-pitch at-bat to Dodgers center fielder Cody Bellinger that led to the 2nd walk of the inning. However the right-hander settled in with a heavy mix of his sinker and changeup to keep Los Angeles off the board.
Over the course of his next 70 pitches, the first-year Cubs pitcher was untouchable. He rounded off his night with a season-high 5 strolls with 4 strikeouts.
Tepera, Chafin and Kimbrel took control of for Davies as his pitch count neared 100. They combined for three innings as they each strolled one batter to add to the Cubs eight overall complimentary passes.
The effort marked the seventh no-hitter of 2021, which ties the Modern Era (because 1900) AL/NL mark also embeded in 1990, 1991, 2012 and 2015. It was the 17th no-hitter in Cubs history, the most recent one originating from Alec Mills last season against the Brewers.
The Astros were the last team to toss a combined no-hitter, a four-pitcher effort versus the Mariners on Aug. 3, 2019.