Cubs 5, Nationals 4
Carlos Zambrano looked like the Big Z of old, allowing just one run over 7 2/3 innings of work and the Chicago Cubs got home runs from Alfonso Soriano and Tyler Colvin to down the Washington Nationals 5-4 on Tuesday night.
Zambrano (5-6) turned in his best start in months, allowing just five hits while striking out eight and walking one.
Soriano hit a three-run blast, his 20th dinger of the season, in the second inning to open the scoring. Tyler Colvin hit his 19th homer of the year in the fourth inning, a two-run shot, to provide all the offense Zambrano needed.
John Lannan (5-6) took the loss, allowing four earned runs over five innings. The loss snapped his three-game winning streak.
The Nats (53-73) threatened late when Adam Kennedy drilled a bases-loaded double to score three in the ninth inning against Carlos Marmol, but the Cubs closer managed to get out of the jam and preserve the win.
The Cubs (53-74) have outscored Washington 14-5 through the first two games of the series.