*Photo from Chron*
Normally, I skip over spring training game recaps. This wasn't normal. Justin Steele started it, Nick Burdi sealed it, and the Chicago Cubs defeated the San Diego Padres 4-0 on Friday night in Peoria.
Against what figures to be a scary Padres lineup, the Cubs pitching staff tossed a combined no hitter, with 7 pitchers combining to shut down the Padres. It was the first spring training no hitter since 2017 and the first spring training no hitter in Cubs history.
Steele said after the game that "Their lineup is going to be really good this year. It's good to face Cronenworth and Grisham. I faced Cronenworth and Grisham a lot throughout the Minor Leagues, so they’ve seen me plenty. It’s good to face Machado. It’s good to get out there and compete again."
Edwin Rios got the Cubs on the board in the 4th inning, cranking a solo home run to right field to make it 1-0. After a scoreless 5th inning, Nick Madrigal crossed the plate in the 6th inning after a sac fly off the bat of Yan Gomes, making it 2-0 Cubs after 2/3 of the game.
The Cubs added a pair of insurance runs in the 9th inning. It was because of an error from Alfonso Rivas, which allowed Pete Crow-Armstrong and Jared Young to score and make the Cubs lead 4-0. The pitching staff did the rest.
Steele got the start with two scoreless innings. Javier Assad handled the next two, walking one hitter and getting credited with the win. Brad Boxberger, Adbert Alzolay, Jeremiah Estrada, Cam Sanders, and Burdi each pitched an inning to close out the win. All 7 pitchers combined for 5 walks and 7 strikeouts, with Estrada and Sanders each striking out two.
Padres manager Bob Melvin said in his postgame interview that it was the "First game under the lights, but they had to play under ’em, too. It’s a Spring Training game, but it never feels good to get no-hit. We’re not going to go home with a smile on our face."
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