*Photo from Fox News*
If you can't throw a no hitter individually, you might as well throw one with the help of the bullpen. Javier Baez homered, 4 different pitchers allowed zero hits, and the Chicago Cubs no hit the Los Angeles Dodgers with a 4-0 win on Thursday night.
Cubs manager David Ross said "When you have that confidence and how these guys have been throwing, obviously that’s a huge deal and a part of it, you feel really secure about a four-run lead. Then you get to the ninth, I don’t know that I’ve been as nervous in a long time with a 4-0 lead and two outs with Craig Kimbrel on the mound than I was tonight."
Baez got the party started early with a solo homer to center field in the first inning, giving the Cubs an early 1-0 lead. In the 6th inning, Willson Contreras extended the Cubs lead to 3-0 with a two run homer to left field. In the 7th, Jason Heyward scored on a Jake Marisnick single to make it 4-0 Cubs, which was enough for the pitching staff.
Zach Davies did most of the heavy lifting for the Cubs, throwing the first 6 no hit innings, walking 5 hitters and striking out 4. After that, Ryan Tepera threw a no hit 7th inning. Andrew Chafin then came on and delivered in the 8th to keep the no hitter alive. In the 9th, it was Kimbrel who locked it down, striking out the side to seal the deal.
Davies said of throwing a combined no hitter that "This is an awesome moment. I think the World Series, something like that, probably tops it. But even though it wasn't a solo, it was a combined effort, just being a part of history and something like that is fun for myself, for family members, for friends, and definitely for the guys that came in the game and contributed."
Walker Buehler took the loss for the Dodgers, his first loss in a regular season game since September of 2019 against the Colorado Rockies. Buehler allowed 3 runs on 5 hits and two walks, recording 6 strikeouts in 6 innings pitched. David Price, Garrett Cleavinger, and Phil Bickford also pitched for the Dodgers.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of being no hit that "I think that tomorrow, obviously, we want to, we need to, turn a page and get ready for Arrieta. But I think that when something like this happens, you want it to sting a little bit because it stings me. But there’s a point, once we get to the ballpark tomorrow, it needs to be washed."
The Cubs and Dodgers continue their series tonight, with Jake Arrieta starting for the Cubs, and Tony Gonsolin getting the start for the Dodgers.
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