Bote breaks tie in 10th, sends Cubs past Nats

[September 07, 2018]  David Bote lined a tiebreaking double to right-center in the top of the 10th inning, and Taylor Davis added an RBI single later as the Chicago Cubs defeated the Washington Nationals 6-4 in the opener of a four-game series Thursday night at Nationals Park.

Albert Almora Jr. started the game-winning rally with a one-out double off Jimmy Cordero (1-2) in the top of the frame. Bote followed with his double, and even though Almora held up for a moment to make sure the ball wasn't caught, he scored easily from second base with the go-ahead run.

Davis came up later in the inning as a pinch hitter and sent a run-scoring single to right, his first hit and RBI this season.

Davis pinch-hit for closer Pedro Strop (5-1), who earned the victory for the Cubs thanks to a scoreless ninth. Jesse Chavez closed it in the 10th and came away with his fourth save.

Washington starter Stephen Strasburg lasted 5 2/3 innings and allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits but needed 111 pitches to get that far. He missed about two months due to injuries and has pitched better since returning from the disabled list in mid-August.

For Chicago, starter Kyle Hendricks also finished with a no-decision after his five-inning effort. He gave up four runs (one earned) on six hits and struck out six.

The game swung back and forth early on. Chicago took a 2-0 lead in the third inning thanks to back-to-back RBI hits from Anthony Rizzo (double) and Ben Zobrist (single).

Cubs third baseman David Bote (13) is congratulated by teammates after scoring a run against the Washington Nationals during the tenth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

Washington answered with three in the fourth. Anthony Rendon drove in the first run with a double, and Mark Reynolds later added a two-run homer that gave the Nationals a 3-2 lead.

The Cubs tied it in the fifth thanks to a Zobrist sacrifice fly. But Washington came back in the bottom of that inning on a Trea Turner RBI single that gave the Nationals a 4-3 lead.

But Chicago came back and tied it once more in the top of the eighth when Willson Contreras drove in a run on a fielder's choice against Justin Miller.

Cubs second baseman Daniel Murphy went 1-for-5 in his first game in Washington since being traded by the Nationals last month.

--Field Level Media

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