With a Little Help From His Friends

No-hitters often come out of nowhere, and that’s what makes them so much fun. Some of the greatest pitchers in history never threw a no-hitter and still ended up in Cooperstown, while their lesser contemporaries caught lightning in a bottle and then faded into well-deserved obscurity.

     

ZACH DAVIES

The unimposing Cubs righthander Zach Davies inscribed his name in the record books last night when he and relievers Ryan Tepera, Andrew Chafin, and Craig Kimbrel combined to hold the Los Angeles Dodgers hitless in a 4-0 victory by the North Siders. Davies walked five batters (while striking out four) in six innings of work, and his three successors walked one batter apiece to make it an alarming eight for the evening--but all's well that ends well. Kimbrel struck out the side in the ninth to conclude the no-no.

     

     In addition to catching the first no-hitter of his career, Willson Contreras belted a two-run homer with the Cubs leading only 1-0 in the sixth inning.

     Kimbrel has recovered nicely after enduring a very rough stretch during the Cubs’ late-season collapse in 2019. He has been truly stupendous this year, notching 20 saves in 22 opportunities with an ERA of 0.56, a WHIP of 0.66, and 52 strikeouts in 30 innings. His bullpen mates Tepera and Chafin have been similarly effective.

     Last night’s collaborative gem was the 17th no-hitter in the Cubs’ 146-year history and only the 12th since the beginning of the 20th century. Nineteenth-century star Larry Corcoran tossed three no-hitters (for the team then known as the White Stockings), while Ken Holtzman and Jake Arrieta each recorded two.

 

     Below is a list of no-hitters by Cubs pitchers over the years:

 

Date	Pitcher	Opponent	Score
August 19, 1880	Larry Corcoran	Boston Red Caps	6–0
September 20, 1882	Larry Corcoran	Worcester Ruby Legs	5–0
June 27, 1884	Larry Corcoran	Providence Grays	6–0
July 27, 1885	John Clarkson	at Providence Grays	4–0
August 21, 1898	Walter Thornton	Brooklyn Bridegrooms	2–0
August 31, 1915	Jimmy Lavender	at New York Giants	2–0
May 12, 1955	Sam Jones	Pittsburgh Pirates	4–0
May 15, 1960	Don Cardwell	St. Louis Cardinals	4–0
August 19, 1969	Ken Holtzman	Atlanta Braves	3–0
June 3, 1971	Ken Holtzman	at Cincinnati Reds	1–0
April 16, 1972	Burt Hooton	Philadelphia Phillies	4–0
September 2, 1972	Milt Pappas	San Diego Padres	8–0
September 14, 2008	Carlos Zambrano	vs. Houston Astros*	5–0
August 30, 2015	Jake Arrieta	at Los Angeles Dodgers	2–0
April 21, 2016	Jake Arrieta	at Cincinnati Reds	16–0
September 13, 2020	Alec Mills	at Milwaukee Brewers	12–0

 

June 24, 2021                   [Four pitchers]             at Los Angeles Dodgers        4-0

* Game was played in Milwaukee due to a hurricane in Houston.  

 

  

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