Zach Davies, Ryan Tepera, Andrew Chafin and Craig Kimbrel allowed eight walks but zero hits in the Cubs’ 4-0 win over the Dodgers.
LOS ANGELES – It wasn’t the prettiest one you’ll see, but you won’t be able to tell in the history books.
Zach Davies, Ryan Tepera, Andrew Chafin and Craig Kimbrel made history on Thursday, tossing the first combined no-hitter in franchise history in the Cubs’ 4-0 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. It’s the 17th no-hitter in team history.
It hasn’t been long since the last no-hitter for the Cubs after Alec Mills made history against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sept. 13, 2020.
“This is an awesome moment,” Davies said. “Even though it wasn’t a solo, it was a combined effort. Just being part of history and something like that is fun.”
The 2021 season has been one full of ups and downs for Davies as the Cubs’ right-hander has tried to find a consistent rhythm. But he definitely had things locked in against the World Series champions.
Davies’ night didn’t start the smoothest as he walked both Max Muncy and Cody Bellinger in the first inning before getting a groundout to end the threat. But after that inning things started to click for Davies as he figured out exactly how he wanted to attack the Dodgers.
The Cubs’ right-hander allowed just two hard-hit balls over his six no-hit innings with four strikeouts and avoided little, if any contact all night.
But it wasn’t a perfect start for Davies as he walked a season-high five batters and has had better outings this season, but none of that mattered as he left the game after being pinch-hit for in the seventh with the lead and zeros still on the board.
“I think the hard part is taking a guy who hasn’t given up a hit,” manager David Ross said. “He was going back out and try to at least get into the seventh and see where it went, but I felt like we needed to take advantage of guys on base with nobody out to push across an extra run.”
The bullpen has been a big part of the Cubs’ success this season and it made sense that they’d get an opportunity to not only help the Cubs win, but be part of history, as well.
Ross then turned things over to his A-lineup in the bullpen to close the door. The combination of Tepera, Chafin and Kimbrel have been lights out this season and when that trio makes an appearance, it usually means good things for the Cubs. This night was no exception.
Tepera was the first man up after Davies and did his job, working a hitless seventh despite allowing a walk. Chafin came on in the eighth inning and did the same, making Kimbrel the last man up.
“The whole bullpen had no idea, like completely oblivious,” Chafin said after the game. “We couldn’t see the scoreboard with the line or whatever at the bottom.”
After walking the lead-off man, Kimbrel looked as electric as he had all season and striking out Bellinger, Albert Pujols and Will Smith to slam the door on the Dodgers in the ninth and send the Cubs to a victory on a historic night.
“It’s definitely an honor,” Tepera said. “What an accomplishment. As a bullpen this year, so far, we’ve been really good. It’s kind of a cool thing to make history like that. As a baseball player, that’s all you can really ask for.”
“When Willy gave a big fist pump, I knew something was up,” Kimbrel said. “And then [Tepera] ran out there and whispered in my ear, ‘You have no idea what just happened.’ Then Javy put me in a headlock and I knew pretty fast what had just happened.”
The Cubs’ combined no-no is the team’s second no-hitter at Dodgers Stadium with the last one coming courtesy of Jake Arrieta on Aug. 30, 2015.
Willson Contreras wasn’t behind the plate for Mills’ no-hitter last season and after finally getting the opportunity to catch one himself, naturally, the emotion of the moment quickly took hold.
“Catching this team since 2016, I’ve been catching a lot of shutout games, but nothing close to a no-hitter,” said Contreras, who also homered in the game. “Tonight was one of those nights that have a special place in my life and will be hard for me to forget.
“I’m thankful for all the pitchers that came out of the bullpen to their job without knowing that was going on, but I’m really proud.”
