Cubs have combined no-hitter through 7 innings vs Dodgers

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Chicago Cubs are working on a combined no-hitter through seven innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday night.

Right-hander Zach Davies started with six resilient innings, and reliever Ryan Tepera kept it up in the seventh. The Dodgers drew six walks, but had no other baserunners.

Davies issued five walks and used 94 pitches to get through the first six innings, but still managed to keep the defending World Series champions without a hit in the 16th start of his first season with the Cubs.

Tepera, the busiest reliever in Chicago's solid bullpen, walked Gavin Lux with two outs in the seventh. Austin Barnes lined out to second to end another hitless inning.

The Cubs led 4-0 in their quest for the majors' seventh no-hitter of the season.

Davies bounced back sharply after yielding a career-high eight runs in his last start against Miami. Those eight runs matched the number he had allowed in his previous six starts combined, and he regained his excellent form at Dodger Stadium.

Davies still had control issues in Chavez Ravine, however. He walked two batters in the first before getting Albert Pujols to ground out to end it.

He walked the leadoff batter in the third and fourth, but avoided any other trouble. The fifth inning was his first 1-2-3 frame, and he retired the Dodgers in order in the sixth as well.

The Dodgers got closest to a hit in the first inning when Chris Taylor's line drive to center was caught by Rafael Ortega.

Davies has never thrown a complete game in his seven-year major league career, which began with five seasons in Milwaukee before he moved to San Diego last year.

Javier Báez staked Davies to an early lead by homering off Walker Buehler in the first inning, and Willson Contreras added a two-run shot in the sixth....

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Cubs-Zach-Davies-has-no-hitter-through-6-innings-16273229.php