Chicago CubsvsWashington Nationals
CHC 8/WSH 6
Things to say
The Cubs beat the Nationals 8-6 at Nationals Park.
01
opener
Cubs took it 8-6 in D.C. Back-and-forth most of the night, but Chicago's bats just kept coming. Nats hung around, never quite got over the hump.
02
key player
The heart of that Cubs order was cooking — put up a crooked number and left one in the seats. That's the difference in a game like this.
03
hot take
Washington's manager went to the pen way too early. You've got a lead, you let your guy work — instead the bullpen coughed it right back up.
04
deep cut
Cubs are 70-50 now, twenty games over. Nats sitting under .500 at 59-62 — this was one of those getaway-day games where the better team just wears you down.
05
exit
Anyway, Chicago's rolling. Curious if they can keep it up against real pitching this weekend — let's see.
The recap
Cubs went into Nationals Park and grabbed a getaway-day win, hanging eight runs on Washington to walk out 8-6. Chicago's bats did the damage against the heart of the order, and once they built the cushion the Nats' bullpen couldn't slam the door.
Washington scratched back with six of their own, but they left too many ducks on the pond to make it stick. That's 70 wins for the Cubs, who keep looking like the class of this matchup.