Red-hot Ben Zobrist homered twice for the Cubs in Friday’s 8-6 win and has four homers and 14 RBIs in his last five games. The four-game series continues Saturday at 1:20 p.m.as Nationals LHP Gio Gonzalez (2-1, 1.15 ERA) meets Cubs RHP Jason Hammel (4-0, 1.24 ERA).
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Chicago Cubs’ Javier Baez, right, celebrates with teammates after hitting a baseball game-winning solo home run against the Washington Nationals during the 13th inning Sunday, May 8, 2016, in Chicago.
Diamondbacks 7, Braves 2: Zack Greinke allowed two runs in six innings, Brandon Drury hit a homer and Arizona snapped a six-game losing streak.
Despite back-to-back losses to the Cubs in the series’ first two games, the Nationals are still off to the best start since moving to Washington from Montreal in 2005….
“I couldn’t tell if [Taylor] pushed it into the ivy”, Cubs manager Joe Maddon told the MLB Web site. “It really goes unheralded and he’s doing a great job of steeping in and getting starts here and there and as of late he’s been really crushing the ball”.
Chicago Cubs’ Ben Zobrist, right, is greeted by Anthony Rizzo (44) after hitting a three-run home run against the Washington Nationals during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Friday, May 6, 2016, in Chicago. It’s hard to believe that a team that won 97 games last season could get even better, but the Cubs have done exactly that, and it’s clear that Heyward, Lackey, and Zobrist are three reasons why.
“Probably a week ago both of those balls I hit would have been caught”, he said. The Cubs also improved their major league-best record to 21-6 for their best start since they were 23-4 in 1907. “Any time you start feeling good at the plate, it makes the game a lot more fun, especially with a nice, warm day, the wind blowing out”. Solis then entered and gave up a two-run single to pinch hitter Ryan Kalish as Jorge Soler and Russell scored for a 5-4 Cubs lead.Gonzalez finished with an even 100 pitches while allowing five runs on seven hits.
Nick Vincent (2-1) pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings for the win and Steve Cishek allowed one hit in the ninth for his ninth save. The Nationals began the day with the league’s second-best record at 19-8.
Baltimore rookie Mike Wright (1-3) gave up five runs and 10 hits in five-plus innings. He became the fifth active pitcher with 2,000 strikeouts, joining CC Sabathia, Bartolo Colon, Felix Hernandez and Jake Peavy.
“I got as close as I could, put my glove out, it nicked off it and things happened”, Harper said.
Ryan Zimmerman knocked in two runs for the Nationals. He surrendered 10 runs in 2014 when he pitched for the Detroit Tigers against the Kansas City Royals. Russell went 2-for-3 with a walk, one run scored and three RBIs.
La Stella tied the score with a two-run home run in the second. “… Whatever happened, like I said, the ball just wasn’t bouncing our way today”.
Zobrist connected again for his fifth homer, a three-run shot with two outs in the fifth that made it 7-2.
“Everything is just falling the Cubs’ way right now”, center fielder Ben Revere said. Baker left him in to face left-handed Anthony Rizzo, who had three hits against lefties all season but singled through the right side.
Cubs: C Miguel Montero, on the DL with lower back tightness, hit before the game and Maddon said trainer P.J. Mainville was encouraged with his progress.
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“I take the blame for that”, Drew said.
