It's OK not to think a combined no-hitter is all that great

The no-hitter was over the minute Shōta left, no matter the result

It's OK not to think a combined no-hitter is all that great
Wait, that’s what Nate Pearson looks like without a hat?

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Last night Cubs reliever Porter Hodge threw a pitch to Pissburgh’s O’Neil Cruz who grounded it meekly to shortstop. Dansby Swanson fielded it and made a routine throw to Michael Busch at first. The Cubs had won 12-0, and Busch’s reaction was befitting the score. He just kind of ambled towards the middle of the diamond with the ball. Meanwhile, Hodge and Amaya were jumping into each other’s arms like the Cubs had just clinched the pennant. The rest of the team seemed to be bemused by why those two were so excited.

The result of the game was more than a team shutout. Starting pitcher Shōta Imanaga had thrown seven hitless innings, then Nate Pearson threw one and Hodge’s 1-2-3 ninth sealed a combined no hitter.

Pat Hughes seemed to think it was a big deal on the radio. The raffle winner who was calling the game in Boog Sciambi’s stead on Marquee Sports Network thought it was the greatest thing he’d ever seen and some fans got genuinely excited, but you are more than forgiven if your reaction was more like, “Well hey, they needed that win. What time’s football on tomorrow night?”