Cody Bellinger saves Ben Brown’s no-hitter with incredible home run-stealing catch originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Cody Bellinger struggled in center field during the seventh inning on Tuesday. Puppies-Brewers game.
With Ben Brown seven-inning no-hitter Down the line, Willy Adames hit a fly ball to center field. But Bellinger got to him before he could cross the fence.
Bellinger’s catch saved Brown’s no-hitter, which would ultimately end after the Cubs pulled him from the game after that same inning. He threw 93 pitches, a justified amount to get him out. His previous career-high pitch count was 89 pitches.
The combined no-hitter Hayden Wesneski inherited in the eighth inning was broken during his 12-pitch outing. Mark Leiter Jr. came on in relief after Wesneski in the eighth inning to end the inning.
As for Brown, he pitched seven innings without allowing a single hit or run. He walked two batters and struck out 10, a new career high for strikeouts in a single game.
The Cubs have used him as a starter and reliever this season. He has started five games for the Cubs this season and has appeared in 12 total.
Brown also had a good outing in his last start, which was also his last appearance against the Braves. He pitched four innings, allowing just one hit, walking two batters and striking out six batters as a starter.
This season, Brown has a solid 3.20 ERA. In 39.1 innings, he struck out 45 batters and walked 15. His 1.195 WHIP is also an impressive mark for the youngster.
A no-hitter by Brown or the team would have marked the Cubs’ 18th in franchise history. The last no-hitter the franchise saw was a combined effort by Zach Davies, Ryan Tepera, Andrew Chafin and Craig Kimbrel against the Dodgers in 2021. For a singular pitcher, the Cubs haven’t seen one since Alec Mills in 2020.