Starting pitcher Max Scherzer led the Washington Nationals to a 3-0 win over the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Wednesday night pitching seven strong innings, backed by a pair of home runs and a pair of defensive errors made by the Cubs.
Scherzer gave up five hits and one walk while striking out thirteen batters. He threw 108 pitches and 72 strikes.
The Nats took an early lead in the fourth inning. Third baseman Yunel Escobar led off the inning with a single against Cubs left-handed starting pitcher John Lester. Outfielder Bryce Harper followed by drawing a walk. Then, first baseman Ryan Zimmerman grounded into a force out, allowing Escobar to score the Nats first run.
But, lucky for Zimmerman, he ended up reaching first despite the force out situation thanks to a throwing error made by Cubs second baseman Addison Russell and getting the RBI to make it a 1-0 ballgame..
Thanks to Scherzer cruising along, the Washington lineup had ample time to make their mark. Harper went long to lead off the sixth inning versus Lester four his 18th home run in 2015 to put the Nats up 2-0. Harper crushed a high, outside fastball to the grandstand in left center, his second opposite field homer in as many days.
Second baseman Danny Espinosa followed suit in the ninth inning with a solo shot off right-handed reliever Travis Wood to put the the Nats up 3-0.
Nats right-handed closer Drew Storen entered the game in the ninth and allowed a single but recorded his s16th save of the season.
HERO: Max Scherzer. The man’s on fire. He’s 6-3 with a 1.51 ERA after his strong performance. If he were a track off a 1996 Weezer album, he’d be “El Scorcho.” Es en fuego!
GOAT: Matt Grace. The left-handed reliever struggled to settle when he entered the game replacing Scherzer in the eight inning and only faced two batters, who both reached, before being replaced by Casey Janssen.
NATS NOTES:
- Harper leads the Nats with eighteen home runs.
- Espinosa is second on the list when it comes to team totals in homers so far this year. He’s got six after tonight.
NEXT UP: Thursday’s an off day. The Nats will be back in DC at Nationals Park to face the Cincinnati Reds at 7:10 p.m. on Friday night.
About Rachel Levitin