Recap: Nationals 2, Cubs 1

[July 07, 2014]  Nationals 2, Cubs 1: Ryan Zimmerman knocked in the go-ahead run with two outs in the eighth inning as host Washington claimed the rubber match of the three-game series.

Denard Span added two hits and scored both runs for the Nationals, who won for the seventh time in eight games. Tyler Clippard (6-2) earned the win with a scoreless eighth and Rafael Soriano worked a perfect ninth for his 21st save.

Justin Ruggiano, Anthony Rizzo and John Baker each had two hits for the Cubs, who dropped the final two games of the series after a four-game winning streak. Starlin Castro drove in the only run for Chicago.

Both teams got strong outings from their starters, as Chicago's Jake Arrieta allowed one run and four hits over six innings while Jordan Zimmermann gave up seven hits over six scoreless frames. The Nationals scratched across a run in the first when Span led off with a double and came around on back-to-back groundouts by Anthony Rendon and Jayson Werth.

Chicago loaded the bases with one out in the seventh and tied it when Chris Coghlan scored on Castro's shallow sacrifice fly, but Jerry Blevins came on to strike out Luis Valbuena and strand two. Washington cashed in a similar opportunity in the eighth as Zimmerman's single to left against Pedro Strop (1-4) scored Span to break the tie.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Ruggiano recorded his fourth straight multi-hit game and has gone 16-for-35 in his last nine contests. ... Nationals C Wilson Ramos went 2-for-3 to extend his hitting streak to a season-high 10 games, matching his career high. ... Washington's starting pitchers have thrown 16 consecutive scoreless innings.

[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.