Cubs throw first combined no-hitter in franchise history

June 25 (UPI) -- Starter Zach Davies and three relief pitchers teamed up to throw the first combined no-hitter in Chicago Cubs history in a dominant outing against the All-Star-filled Los Angeles Dodgers lineup.

Davies issued five walks and four strikeouts in six hitless and scoreless innings to spark the 4-0 win Thursday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. He handed the ball off to Ryan Tepera, Andrew Chafin and Craig Kimbrel for the final three innings.

"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," Cubs manager David Ross told reporters.

"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 [Thursday]."

Shortstop Javier Baez and catcher Willson Contreras each homered for the Cubs.

Dodgers starter Walker Buehler retired Joc Pederson and Kris Bryant to start the game. Baez followed with a 401-foot solo homer to center field in the next at-bat.

Davies got off to a shaky start, walking two of the first four batters he faced, but got out of the first unscathed. He retired the final nine batters he faced before Ross took him out of the game.

Buehler walked Bryant to start the sixth. He retired Baez and Anthony Rizzo for the first two outs of the inning. Contreras smacked a 382-foot, two-run homer to left field in the next at-bat.

Pinch hitter Jack Marisnick plated the final run with an RBI single to right field in the top of the seventh.

Tepera, Chafin and Kimbrel each issued a walk in their one inning of work. Kimbrel threw three strikeouts in the ninth inning.

Buehler (7-1) allowed five hits and three runs in six innings to take his first loss of the season.

The Cubs' stingy effort resulted in the seventh no-hitter thrown this season, which ties MLB's modern-era record from 1990, 1991, 2012 and 2015. Joe Musgrove, Carlos Rodon, John Means, Wade Miley, Spencer Turnbull and Corey Kluber threw the other no-hitters in 2021.

The Dodgers (44-31) host the Cubs (42-33) at 10:10 p.m. EDT Friday at Dodger Stadium. Cubs starter Jake Arrieta is expected to face fellow right-handed pitcher Tony Gonsolin in the second game of the four-game series in Los Angeles.