Seven Cubs pitchers combine for spring no-hitter vs. Padres

Justin Steele started the game, pitching a clean two innings, followed by Javier Assad, who walked one batter through two innings but kept the no-no intact heading into the fifth. From then on, the North Siders turned the ball over to a new pitcher each inning, with Brad Boxberger, Adbert Alzolay, Jeremiah Estrada, Cam Sanders and Nick Burdi all posting goose eggs in the hit column. 

Burdi, who entered in the ninth, had to wiggle out of trouble to preserve the no-hitter. After striking out Wyatt Hoffman to start the inning, Burdi walked Alfonso Rivas and Brandon Dixon back-to-back. However, with pressure mounting, Burdi got Tim Lopes to roll over on a pitch for a game-ending ground-ball double play, securing unique history for the Cubbies. 

While pitching dominated, the Cubs' four runs were enough to fly the W. Edwin Rios homered in the fourth, and a sac-fly from Yan Gomes gave the Cubs a 2-0 lead after six innings. Chicago added some insurance in the top of the ninth, scoring two runs off a Dom Nunez fielders-choice and a throwing error. 

The Cubs no-hitter won't be remembered nearly as fondly as others through history, but it will go down as a curious spring training footnote. In 2022, Chicago finished below .500 for the second consecutive season. But it's possible the Cubs could carry the momentum from Friday's feat, which will in no way count, and channel it into the regular season.