Thursday’s 7-1 Cubs win over the Nationals concludes a 21-game stretch in which they played only teams under .500.

If you’ll recall, when this stretch began I said something like (paraphrasing, as I don’t remember the precise wording): “If the Cubs are going to be one of the better teams in this league, they should go through this stretch 15-6 or 16-5.”

The Cubs’ win Thursday, which also gave them series wins in all seven series they played over this span, made them 16-5 over the 21 games. It also gave them the best record in the National League at 39-23.

I’d say the Cubs are one of the better teams in this league. Wouldn’t you?

The Cubs didn’t waste any time scoring against Jake Irvin. Kyle Tucker, back in the starting lineup, doubled with one out. One out later Pete Crow-Armstrong smashed his 16th home run of the year [VIDEO].

Drew Pomeranz, chosen to be the opener for the second time in a week, did his job again — with an outfield assist. CJ Abrams led off with a single, but Tucker threw him out trying to stretch it to a double [VIDEO].

Abrams did beat the throw, but then came off the base. Pomeranz retired the next two hitters without incident. About Pomeranz’ outing, from BCB’s JohnW53:

Drew Pomeranz has not given up a run since July 27, 2021, when, pitching for the Padres, he gave up a one-out solo homer in the eighth inning to Sean Murphy of the Athletics. He got the final two outs that inning, then threw 4⅔ shutout innings in five games the rest of the season. He has pitched 14⅔ innings in 16 games this year as a Cub, for a total of 20 consecutive innings without allowing a run.

The Cubs increased their lead to 3-0 in the second. Matt Shaw led off with a single and went to second on an infield out.

Ian Happ’s double scored Shaw [VIDEO].

For Happ, that was also a milestone — his 500th career RBI.

Colin Rea, the second Cubs starter to have Pomeranz open for him, entered the game and was brilliant. He, too, got some defensive help. Check out this nice play by Michael Busch in the second [VIDEO].

And in the third, the Cubs got some defense from Happ. Robert Hassell III tried to stretch a single into a double and Ian said… nope [VIDEO].

Happ also helped the Cubs offensively. After Reese McGuire led off the sixth with a single, Happ smacked this long home run [VIDEO].

Did I say long home run? [VIDEO]

Rea finally ran out of gas in the seventh. With one out, Josh Bell doubled and Rea hit Alex Call. Craig Counsell then summoned Caleb Thielbar, who retired the first batter he faced on a foul popup, but then Hassell singled to load the bases.

Look at this terrific curveball Thielbar threw to strike out Abrams [VIDEO].

That bailed out Rea, who wound up throwing 5⅓ scoreless innings with five hits allowed — but no strikeouts. About that, from BCB’s JohnW53:

Colin Rea pitched 5⅓ innings without allowing a run and had no strikeouts. No Cubs reliever had pitched at least that many scoreless innings without a strikeout in nearly 75 years, since Johnny Klippstein on Sept. 2, 1950, at home vs. the Reds. He pitched 5⅔ no-hit innings and walked three.

The previous reliever matched Rea’s one walk: Hank Borowy threw seven no-hit innings, the last seven of a 3-3, 17-inning tie at Boston on Sept. 11, 1946. In that same game, Emil Kush had pitched 5⅓ innings, with one hit, five walks and no strikeouts.

Ten pitchers did from 1901-42. Pete Standbridge pitched the most innings, eight, with six walks, in 1915. Bob Smith was the only one with no walks, in 6⅓ innings in 1931.

Also (Bluesky link):

Moyer did this as a starter and all the pitchers John noted were relievers.

The Cubs picked up another pair of runs in the ninth. With one out, Michael Busch walked, but was forced at second by Nico Hoerner. Matt Shaw singled, his third hit of the game, with Nico taking third. Shaw then stole second, and McGuire drove in Hoerner with this infield hit [VIDEO].

Shaw took third on that play and scored on this single by Happ [VIDEO].

Ryan Pressly entered to throw the bottom of the ninth. He retired the first two hitters without incident, but then Daylen Lile reached on catcher’s interference. After Lile took second on defensive indifference, Luis Garcia Jr. singled him in. Since catcher’s interference is by rule an error, the run charged to Pressly is unearned.

Pressly then got Hassell to ground out to end the game [VIDEO].

Here are some postgame comments by Happ [VIDEO].

One more game note from BCB’s JohnW53:

The Cubs’ five pitchers combined to walk one batter and strike out one.

It was the Cubs’ first game with only one of each since Sept. 18, 2005, when they beat the Cardinals, 7-4, at Wrigley Field. Last night’s game was their 3,049th since then!

The 2005 game was the first of its kind since a 2-1 win over the Dodgers at Los Angeles on May 3, 1997.

They did it a total 199 times in 1901-97, including seven times in the 1960s, 13 in the 1970s, seven in the 1980s and six in the 1990s.

And one last game note:

In 21 of the 39 Cubs wins this season, they scored more runs in a single inning than their opponent scored in the whole game.

— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) June 6, 2025

The Cubs will now play 31 of their next 35 games, which is the schedule up to the All-Star break, against teams currently over .500 (the only exception: a four-game series against the Pirates at Wrigley Field next weekend). This will be a good test of a team now playing .629 baseball.

That test begins with a game against the best pitcher in the American League, Tarik Skubal of the Tigers, Friday evening at Comerica Park. The Cubs announced after the game that Ben Brown would start Friday’s game — a good test for him after his great outing Saturday against the Reds. Game time Friday is 6:10 p.m. CT and TV coverage will be via Apple TV+ (how to watch).