Cubs starting pitcher Zach Davies throws to the plate during the first inning of Thursday’s game against the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Davies pitched the first six innings of a combined no-hitter. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler throws to the plate during the first inning of Thursday’s game against the Cubs at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler throws to the plate during the first inning of Thursday’s game against the Cubs at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
The Cubs’ Javier Baez follows through on a swing for a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
The Cubs’ Javier Baez, center, rounds the bases in front of Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Albert Pujols, right, after hitting a solo home run off of a pitch by Walker Buehler during the first inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Javier Baez #9 of the Chicago Cubs rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning at Dodger Stadium on June 24, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
The Cubs’ Javier Baez celebrates while crossing home plate after a solo home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Javier Baez #9 of the Chicago Cubs gestures to fans after hitting a solo home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning at Dodger Stadium on June 24, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler throws to the plate during the first inning of Thursday’s game against the Cubs at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Dodgers third baseman Chris Taylor throws to first to force out Chicago Cubs’ Kris Bryant at first base during the first inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Zach Davies walks off the field during the third inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Dodgers right fielder Mookie Betts is unable to make a catch on a ball hit by Chicago Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Dodgers second baseman Max Muncy, top, throws to first after forcing out Chicago Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 24, 2021. Willson Contreras was safe at first. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Dodgers shortstop Gavin Lux, left, tags out Chicago Cubs’ Willson Contreras as Contreras attempts to steal second base during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 24, 2021. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Dodgers shortstop Gavin Lux, left, tags out Chicago Cubs’ Willson Contreras as Contreras attempts to steal second base during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 24, 2021. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Dodgers shortstop Gavin Lux tosses the baseball after tagging Chicago Cubs’ Willson Contreras out on a steal attempt during the fourth inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler throws to the plate during the first inning of Thursday’s game against the Cubs at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler throws to the plate during the first inning of Thursday’s game against the Cubs at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Chicago Cubs’ Willson Contreras hits a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Chicago Cubs’ Willson Contreras looks up after a hitting a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Dodgers left fielder AJ Pollock watches a ball go out of the park for a two-run home run by Chicago Cubs’ Willson Contreras during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Willson Contreras #40 of the Chicago Cubs slams his bat to the ground as Walker Buehler #21 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after Contreras hit a two run home run during the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium on June 24, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. Kris Bryant scored. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler reacts after allowing a two-run home run to Chicago Cubs’ Willson Contreras during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler reacts after allowing a two-run home run to Chicago Cubs’ Willson Contreras during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Willson Contreras #40 of the Chicago Cubs gestures after hitting a two run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium on June 24, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. Kris Bryant scored. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Willson Contreras #40 of the Chicago Cubs and Willie Harris #33 of the Chicago Cubs react as Contreras rounds third base after hitting a two-run home run against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the sixth inning at Dodger Stadium on June 24, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. Kris Bryant scored. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
The Cubs’ Willson Contreras, right, celebrates with Kris Bryant after a two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Cubs starting pitcher Zach Davies delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Cubs relief pitcher Andrew Chafin prepares to pitch during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Cubs relief pitcher Andrew Chafin gestures from the mound during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Cubs relief pitcher Andrew Chafin delivers a pitch during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Cubs shortstop Javier Baez points to first baseman Anthony Rizzo after a double play during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Cubs relief pitcher Andrew Chafin pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium on June 24, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Cubs shortstop Javier Baez, left tags out Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts to complete a double play off an infield ground ball to fielder’s choice by Max Muncy during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Cubs relief pitcher Andrew Chafin is searched for substances following the eighth inning during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on June 24, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Cubs relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel delivers a pitch during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 24, 2021. The Cubs won 4-0. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Cubs relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel reacts after pitching the final inning for a combined no-hitter after a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 24, 2021. The Cubs won 4-0. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Craig Kimbrel #46 of the Chicago Cubs reacts after throwing a combined no hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers following the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium on June 24, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. The Chicago Cubs won, 4-0. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Cubs relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel, right, celebrates with catcher Willson Contreras after the final out for a combined no-hitter after a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 24, 2021. The Cubs won 4-0. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
The Cubs celebrate a combined no-hitter after the final out by relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel, second from right, after a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 24, 2021. The Cubs won 4-0. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
The Cubs celebrate a combined no-hitter after the final out by relief pitcher Craig Kimbrel in a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 24, 2021. The Cubs won 4-0. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Craig Kimbrel #46 of the Chicago Cubs celebrates with teammates after throwing a combined no hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers following the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium on June 24, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. The Chicago Cubs won, 4-0. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Cubs outfielder Joc Pederson, left, receives his 2020 World Series championship ring from Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw before Thursday’s game at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Cubs outfielder Joc Pederson shows off his 2020 World Series ring after receiving it from some of his former Dodgers teammates before Thursday’s game at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Cubs outfielder Joc Pederson shows off his 2020 World Series ring after receiving it from some of his former Dodgers teammates before Thursday’s game at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Cubs outfielder Joc Pederson, left, receives his 2020 World Series championship ring from Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw before Thursday’s game at Dodger Stadium. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
Cubs outfielder Joc Pederson walks back to the dugout after receiving his 2020 World Series ring from some of his former Dodgers teammates before Thursday’s game at Dodger Stadium. (Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw walks on the field before a baseball game against the Cubs in Los Angeles, Thursday, June 24, 2021. (AP Photo/Kelvin Kuo)
LOS ANGELES ― The season of the no-hitter came to Dodger Stadium.
The Chicago Cubs beat the Dodgers 4-0 on Thursday night, as Zach Davies and three relievers combined on the seventh no-hitter of the 2021 season. It was the 10th no-hitter thrown against the Dodgers since the franchise relocated from Brooklyn in 1958.
Davies threw six innings and struck out four batters. Ryan Tepera, Andrew Chafin and Craig Kimbrel threw the final three innings, respectively, each walking one batter along the way. The Dodgers drew eight walks in all but never threatened to score. Even their hardest-hit outs – three balls left the bat faster than 100 mph – were of little strain on the Cubs’ defense.
Coincidentally, the Cubs were the last team to hold the Dodgers without a hit. Jake Arrieta completed the task on Aug. 30, 2015 at Dodger Stadium.
The 2021 season is not yet halfway over, yet the seven no-hitters match the most thrown in any year since 1900.
“How we lost it, getting no-hit at home, is obviously frustrating for everyone,” Manager Dave Roberts said. “As an offense, earning eight walks was certainly a positive. Walking more than striking out over the course of a night is positive. Overall, we didn’t do a good job of executing a game plan. We know Davies. We’ve seen him.”
The Dodgers (44-31) suffered their fourth consecutive loss before the announced crowd of 52,175. Their offense had been slumping recently, scoring only seven runs en route to a three-game sweep at the hands of the San Diego Padres before returning home Thursday.
For a team with ambitions of defending its World Series title, however, this was a new low.
“I don’t think they were very good as a whole,” outfielder Mookie Betts said of the Dodgers’ at-bats. “We mixed in a couple. As a whole, I don’t think we had very good at-bats. You have to tip your cap to the Cubs for pitching a great game.”
Betts returned to the Dodgers’ lineup after missing Wednesday’s game due to illness. The Dodgers’ 75th game of the season was only their 10th with Betts, Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy in the same lineup. On this night, injuries were no excuse.
Davies, a 28-year-old right-hander, kept the Dodgers off-balance with his usual assortment of sinkers, changeups, cutters and curveballs. He threw 94 pitches, none faster than 88 mph.
“Concentrating on every pitch, knowing that even though I walk a guy here and there, getting the next hitter is important,” Davies said. “Just staying mentally prepared and locked in is key, especially against a club like the Dodgers. The defense always shows you that they’re there for you, and they’ll take care of everything you throw at them.”
Chafin said “the whole bullpen” had no idea a no-hitter was in progress when he entered the game. He did not realize the significance until he saw a graphic on a television screen in the visitors’ clubhouse displaying the record for no-hitters in a season.
“I would’ve thrown the same stuff anyways,” Chafin said. “I go out there with my approach, and that’s what it’s going to be regardless.”
The game ended when Kimbrel struck out Bellinger, Albert Pujols and Will Smith after walking Chris Taylor to begin the ninth inning.
Dodgers starter Walker Buehler pitched well enough to win on a typical night. He allowed only one run over the first five innings, a first-inning home run by Javier Baez. The Cubs did not get another hit against Buehler until Anthony Rizzo blooped a single into right field in the fourth inning.
The 1-0 score held into the sixth inning. Kris Bryant led off with a walk. Buehler recorded the next two outs, and got ahead of catcher Willson Contreras, but paid dearly for a fastball down the middle of the plate. Contreras slugged it over the left-field fence for his 13th home run of the season, giving the Cubs a 3-0 lead.
Buehler finished the inning but was replaced by David Price to begin the seventh. All three runs he allowed scored as the result of home runs. The right-hander struck out six batters and walked two.
“A couple mistakes in there,” Roberts said of Buehler, “but to go six innings and to give up three runs – it sounds like I keep saying it every night where one of our starters gives us a chance to win – we’ve got to find a way to hold up our end, to score some runs.”
With Price on the mound, the Cubs nearly turned the game into a blowout.
Jason Heyward reached on a throwing error and went to third base on an infield single by Eric Sogard on first. Cubs manager David Ross then made the debatable decision to replace Davies with pinch hitter Jake Marisnick, ending Davies’ bid for a complete game no-hitter.
The decision paid off. Marisnick delivered a run-scoring single, giving the Cubs a 4-0 cushion. Price hit the next batter, Joc Pederson, and was quickly replaced by right-hander Phil Bickford. Price faced four batters in all and did not record an out.
Bickford inherited a bases-loaded, no-outs situation but impressively worked out of the jam without allowing a run. He struck out Bryant, then retired Baez on an inning-ending double play, recording two outs on five pitches.
The seven no-hitters this season do not include a seven-inning complete game performance by Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Madison Bumgarner in April. The Braves did not record a hit against Bumgarner in that game, which was shortened to seven innings because it was part of a doubleheader.
The game ended with the Cubs streaming out of the first base dugout, joining Contreras and Kimbrel in a group hug on the mound.
For the Dodgers, bouncing back from a no-hitter is no different than any other defeat, Betts said.
“We play 162 games,” he said. “You’re going to have games like this throughout the year. You wake up tomorrow and play another game.”
