A seventh-inning rally powered the Cubs to a 4-2 win against the Nationals on Wednesday, as they claimed the series victory.
“Really nice up and down contributions in the last couple games,” said Cubs shortstop Nico Hoerner, who went 2-for-4 at the plate Wednesday. “Fun rallies, home games, series win, all positive stuff.”
Hoerner was the first to do damage against Nationals starter Josiah Gray, who shut out the Cubs through sixth innings. Hoerner led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a solo homer, making it a 2-1 game.
As the frame wore on, Nick Madrigal drove in the tying run with a groundball single up the middle, and Patrick Wisdom, pinch running for Yan Gomes, scored from second base.
A sacrifice fly from Rafael Ortega and an RBI single from Ian Happ then gave the Cubs a 4-2 lead.
The Nationals used three pitchers in the seventh inning alone, as relievers Steve Cishek and Carl Edwards Jr. followed Gray.
It was the second straight game that the Cubs staged a comeback against the Nationals in the seventh inning. On Tuesday, the Nationals struck back with a two-run homer the next frame to win the game by a run. On Wednesday, Cubs relievers Michael Rucker, Brandon Hughes and Rowan Wick combined for three scoreless innings.
Happy anniversary
A year ago, Justin Steele made his first major-league start, allowing three runs in five innings against the Brewers.
“Not even the same pitcher,” Steele said Wednesday, after holding the Nationals to two runs through six innings. “Completely different. Completely different mindset. I just look at it completely different now, the way I attack lineups, the way I’m using my pitches. It’s been a year full of improvement, building off each start, trying to learn something in every start I make.”
On Wednesday, the first run scored when a line drive got past Ortega in center field. The second was a solo homer, courtesy of Nationals rookie Joey Meneses. Called up last week, Meneses has only played in seven major-league games. He hit home runs in all three against the Cubs, including the game-winning shot on Tuesday.
Steele surpassed the 100-strikeout mark for the season on Wednesday, fanning nine Nationals hitters. He’s posted a 1.95 ERA in his last seven starts.
