Nico Hoerner's slam propels Cubs past Nats

[July 20, 2023]  Nico Hoerner's first career grand slam highlighted a five-run eighth inning and the Chicago Cubs overcame blowing a two-run lead in the top of the frame to beat the visiting Washington Nationals 8-3 on Wednesday night. 

Mike Tauchman homered for one of his three hits and had three RBIs, and Yan Gomes, on his 36th birthday, gave the Cubs a 4-3 lead with his sacrifice fly against Mason Thompson (3-3) in the eighth. Then with two out, Hoerner (two hits) sent a 1-1 fastball from Cory Abbott well into the left field bleachers to break the contest open and help Chicago to a second straight victory -- and get its first home series win since June 16-18.

Jul 19, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (2) his a grand slam against the Washington Nationals during the eighth inning at Wrigley Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

Meanwhile, the Cubs' Kyle Hendricks got back on track after allowing nine runs over his previous two starts to yield one run on five hits while striking out five without a walk. However, he remained winless since June 21 after reliever Julian Merryweather (3-0) allowed a solo homer to ex-Cub Jeimer Candelario to open the eighth then surrendered consecutive two-out singles to Dominic Smith, Corey Dickerson and Luis Garcia (two RBIs) to tie things at 3-3.

Trevor Williams yielded two runs on seven hits and two walks with one strikeout in five innings for Washington, which is 1-4 since winning three straight. After giving up 14 runs in Tuesday's 17-3 loss, the beleaguered Nationals' bullpen allowed six in this contest.

Chicago wasted no time getting on the board as Tauchman opened the first going opposite field into the left-field bleachers for the 20th homer allowed by Williams this season. However, Washington tied it in the second when Garcia drove in a run with the second infield single of the inning.

Tauchman, though, came through again to the opposite field in the fourth with a rip down the left field line for a two-out, RBI double to give Chicago a 2-1 lead. He made it 3-1 an RBI drive off the right-center field ivy in the seventh but was thrown out going for a triple.

--Field Level Media

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