Cubs 9, Nationals 1
Chicago erupted for five runs in the top of the third inning and Casey Coleman went 6 1/3 strong frames in his second major league start to pace the Cubs to a 9-1 win over the Washington Nationals.
Coleman (1-1) allowed a single in the first to Ryan Zimmerman, but was untouchable until Adam Dunn singled in the bottom of the seventh. Coleman gave up just three hits and one run with three strikeouts.
Ivan Rodriguez knocked in Washington’s only run on an RBI groundout in the seventh.
Chicago’s Blake DeWitt opened the scoring in the third with a solo shot, Tyler Colvin chipped in a two-run single and Alfonso Soriano added a two-run triple to close out the big third inning for the Cubs.
DeWitt and Xavier Nady both finished with three RBIs as the Cubs cranked out 15 total hits.
Livan Hernandez (8-9) was tagged for seven runs over 4 1/3 innings, allowing 10 hits while walking four.