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 Rizzo hit two home runs and had three RBIs but was robbed of a third
extra-base hit as the Nationals, who had 12 hits after a recent
offensive dry spell, beat the Cubs 7-5.
Second baseman Danny Espinosa had two hits, including a three-run
homer, for the Nationals. Shortstop Ian Desmond also had two hits
and two runs, and catcher Wilson Ramos had two hits and an RBI as
the Nationals held on after leading 5-1.
The Cubs were trailing 6-4 in the eighth when Rizzo was robbed of a
double as center fielder Denard Span made a nice catch up against
the wall.
"That was a great play by Span," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said.
The catch helped reliever Blake Treinen, who has struggled at times
in the setup role, retire three straight batters in the eighth and
closer Drew Storen got his 18th save despite allowing a run in the
ninth.
"He just makes great catches all of the time," Treinen said of Span.
"I thought it was gone off the bat. You expect it all of the time."
Storen gave up an RBI hit by left fielder Chris Coghlan in the
ninth, but his ERA is still a tidy 1.16.
"We want to get the ball to Drew in the ninth if we can," Washington
manager Matt Williams said.
Rizzo hit a two-run homer in the sixth to pull the Cubs to 5-3.
Catcher Miguel Montero, hitting .111 in his previous seven games,
belted a solo homer to make it 5-4 later in the inning.
"He has been outstanding," Maddon said of Rizzo. "He has to be at
the top of the list" among National League first baseman.
The Nationals had added an insurance run in the seventh to make it
6-4 on a run-scoring double by Ramos.
Pinch-hitter Dan Uggla had an RBI double in the eighth to build the
margin to 7-4.
Washington starter and winner Tanner Roark (2-2) allowed six hits
(three homers) and four runs in 5 2/3 innings.
"We are looking to get Tanner through six innings, but it didn't
happen," Williams said.
The loser was Tsuyoshi Wada (0-1), who has not gone six innings in
any of his four starts.
"Those add-on runs were huge for them," said Maddon, who said he has
given no thought to taking Wada out of the rotation. "We had the
tying run at the plate. Wada obviously did not have his typical
night. I didn't think his stuff was as crisp today. His stuff was
not as solid around home plate."
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With the victory, Washington (30-25) ended a three-game skid. The
Cubs (28-25) lost for the fifth time in eight outings.
Espinosa hit a three-run homer to left to give the Nationals a 3-0
lead in the second as he crushed a 2-2 pitch over the Cubs' bullpen
in left. It was the seventh homer of the season for Espinosa, who
leads National League second baseman in that category.
The Cubs trimmed the lead to 3-1 when Rizzo homered in the fourth
off Roark. An Illinois native, Roark had retired the first 10
batters before Rizzo went deep to right.
Washington upped the margin to 5-1 in the bottom of the fourth as
left fielder Michael A. Taylor had a sacrifice fly and Span had an
RBI single.
Wada allowed nine hits and five earned runs in 3 2/3 innings. He was
replaced in the fourth by former Washington pitcher Edwin Jackson,
who got Rendon to pop out with the bases loaded to end the inning.
NOTES: Washington INF Yunel Escobar, who left Thursday's game after
striking out in the first inning, was not in the starting lineup
Friday due to a sore right wrist. He is hitting .316 and played in
50 of the first 54 games. ... Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo entered the game
ranked seventh in the National League in hitting at .321 and fifth
in doubles with 16. ... The scheduled starters for the Saturday
afternoon game are Cubs RHP Jason Hammel (4-2, 2.82) against
Washington RHP Joe Ross (0-0, 0.00), who will make his major league
debut. ... Washington 1B Ryan Zimmerman entered play Friday hitting
only .151 (8-for-53) in his last 15 games. He was moved into the No.
2 hole on Friday after batting fifth most of the year.
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