Guardians
Guardians and Cubs set mark for fewest combined hits in Progressive Field history as Chicago wins first game of doubleheader, 1-0
Updated: Apr. 05, 2026, 5:21 p.m.|Published: Apr. 05, 2026, 3:54 p.m.
By Joe Noga, cleveland.com
CLEVELAND, Ohio — The Guardians and Cubs found hunting runs harder than hunting Easter eggs as they battled to a scoreless tie through seven innings Sunday at Progressive Field.
Miguel Amaya’s eighth-inning RBI single proved to be the difference as the Guardians fell to Chicago, 1-0, in the first game of a doubleheader.
The game set a record for the fewest combined hits between two teams at Progressive Field, with Chicago collecting two singles and Cleveland managing just one, a double.
Both sides were held scoreless into the eighth inning before Amaya lined a 1-2 fastball from Cleveland reliever Connor Brogdon into right field, scoring pinch runner Dylan Carlson with the game’s only run.
Cubs closer Daniel Palencia shut down the Guardians in the ninth to earn his first save.
Guardians starter Slade Cecconi delivered six shutout innings, surrendering just one hit while issuing one walk and hitting a batter.
Manager Stephen Vogt said Cecconi worked quickly and induced weak contact from Cubs hitters all day while throwing strikes throughout his appearance.
“He did everything he could for us today,” Vogt said.
Cecconi credited catcher Bo Naylor for mixing the pitches he called and keeping Cubs hitters off balance.
That’s when I feel like I’m at my best when I’m using all five of my pitches relatively equally to keep hitters off balance and to showcase the full arsenal," Cecconi said. “Because outside of really the curve ball being a little bit of an outlier, all of my stuff kind of plays pretty evenly.”
Cubs right-hander Edward Cabrera matched Cecconi’s effectiveness, allowing one hit over 5 2/3 innings with four strikeouts. Cabrera entered the game coming off a one-hit performance against the Angels in his previous start.
Cold weather and dominant pitching defined the Easter Sunday contest. Game-time temperatures sat at 44 degrees, with windy conditions creating additional challenges for both offenses.
Vogt said despite the conditions and Cabrera’s efforts, the Guardians hit the ball hard at times and worked some really good walks.
“We didn’t chase a ton and that’s what (Cabrera) feasts off is people chasing him,” Vogt said. “We did a really good job of minimizing that, but we just weren’t able to get that big hit or get much going.”
Cleveland threatened in the sixth inning after C.J. Kayfus broke an 0-for-11 slump with a leadoff double to right field for his first hit of the season. Steven Kwan advanced Kayfus to third with a sacrifice bunt, but Chase DeLauter’s chopper to second baseman Nico Hoerner resulted in Kayfus being thrown out at the plate.
Vogt said Kayfus was “100% going” on the contact play, and that if the ball was two feet to Hoerner’s left or right, there could have been a different outcome.
“You take your chances there,” Vogt said. “We’re aggressive in that situation and we’re going to continue to be.”
Cabrera then walked José Ramírez and Kyle Manzardo to load the bases, prompting Cubs manager Craig Counsel to bring in left-hander Caleb Thielbar. The reliever escaped the jam when Naylor popped out to shortstop Dansby Swanson.
Vogt said he let Naylor face the lefty in that situation because he has put up good at-bats lately, but also because the doubleheader dictated he stay in the game.
“David (Fry) is playing right field in the second game, so you don’t want him going into a tie game, catching three innings, and then going to play the outfield,” Vogt said. “Doubleheaders make other circumstances come into play. But for the majority, we wanted Bo to take that at-bat.”
Gabriel Arias made a sensational defensive play in the eighth inning, throwing out Alex Bregman from deep in the hole at shortstop to prevent any further damage after Amaya’s go-ahead hit.
It’s the second shutout loss in the first nine games for Cleveland, which was held scoreless 15 times last season.
Sunday’s doubleheader marks the earliest in a season for Cleveland since the club played two games at Oakland on April 2, 2014. The Guardians posted a 6-4 record in five doubleheaders last season, including a sweep of Minnesota in their final twin bill.
Next
Game 2 is scheduled for 4:30 p.m., with left-hander Parker Messick (1-0, 0.00) starting for Cleveland against Cubs lefty Shota Imanaga (0-1, 7.20). The game will air on Guardians TV, WTAM 1100 AM, WMMS 100.7 FM, WARF 1350 AM and the Guardians Radio Network.
<
BOXSCORE
https://www.mlb.com/gameday/cubs-vs-gua ... /final/box
<
CONDENSED GAME 1 OF DOUBLE HEADER GUARDIANS VS CUBS
https://www.mlb.com/video/condensed-gam ... 0Games&p=0
<