Cade Cavalli Flirts With First Nationals No-Hitter Since 2015 In Shutout Win Over Cubs

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Cade Cavallitook a no-hitter into the seventh inning, and theWashington Nationalsbeat theChicago Cubs7-0 on Thursday to avoid a three-game sweep.

Michael Buschdelivered 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.

Cavalli (10-5), who turns 28 on Friday, retired the first 15 batters before walkingDansby Swansonto open the sixth.Swanson was quickly erased onMichael 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 Beeterworked a perfect ninth for Washington.

The Nationals didn’t muster a baserunner againstKevin Gausman(6-11) until Abimelec Ortiz’s one-out single in the fourth.Two pitches later,Dylan Crewslaced an RBI double to left-center.

Washington’s first two men in the fifth reached base beforeAndrew Pinckney’s sacrifice fly.AfterCJ Abramssingled, Ortiz hit a three-run shot to right-center to make it 5-0.Daylen Lileadded 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.

Reporting by the Associated Press.