Cade Cavalli takes a no-hitter into 7th inning as the Nationals rout the
Cubs 7-0
[August 14, 2026]
By PATRICK STEVENS
WASHINGTON (AP) — Cade Cavalli took a no-hitter into
the seventh inning, and the Washington Nationals beat the Chicago Cubs
7-0 on Thursday to avoid a three-game sweep.
Michael Busch delivered the Cubs' lone hit with an opposite-field bloop
single to left with two outs in the seventh. The Nationals Park crowd
then applauded Cavalli, who was trying to throw Washington’s first
no-hitter since Max Scherzer did it twice in 2015. |
Washington Nationals pitcher Cade Cavalli throws during the first inning
of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026, in
Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass) |
|
Cavalli (10-5), who turns 28 on Friday, retired the first 15
batters before walking Dansby Swanson to open the sixth. Swanson
was quickly erased on Michael Conforto’s double-play grounder.
Cavalli walked Swanson again with two outs in the eighth, but
struck out Conforto looking to finish his day. The right-hander
struck out 10 while setting career highs in innings (eight) and
pitches (103).
Clayton Beeter worked a perfect ninth for Washington.
The Nationals didn’t muster a baserunner against Kevin Gausman
(6-11) until Abimelec Ortiz’s one-out single in the fourth. Two
pitches later, Dylan Crews laced an RBI double to left-center.
Washington’s first two men in the fifth reached base before
Andrew Pinckney’s sacrifice fly. After CJ Abrams singled, Ortiz
hit a three-run shot to right-center to make it 5-0. Daylen Lile
added an RBI single later in the inning to end Gausman’s day.
Ortiz has four homers in 11 games this season and hit .389 (7
for 18) with three homers and seven RBIs during the Nationals’
six-game homestand.
Gausman allowed six runs in 4 2/3 innings while striking out
seven in his second start since joining the Cubs from Toronto at
the trade deadline.
Up next
RHP Clay Holmes (4-5, 2.86 ERA) makes his second start as a Cub
as Chicago returns home Friday to begin a three-game series
against St. Louis. LHP Andrew Alvarez (2-3, 3.76) starts Friday
as Washington opens its three-game series at the New York Mets.
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