Cubs 2, Nationals 1
WASHINGTON -- Jake Arrieta allowed one run in six innings, and the Chicago Cubs played small ball in a 2-1 victory over the Washington Nationals on Thursday night.
Arrieta (5-4) struck out eight, walked none and gave up six hits. The right-hander earned his first win since May 12, and the Cubs moved to 2-2 on their nine-game road trip by taking the opener of a four-game series at Nationals Park.
Nationals left-hander Gio Gonzalez allowed two runs in six innings as Washington lost its third straight and sixth of seven.
Gonzalez (4-3) allowed four hits and four walks, two of each during a first inning when the Cubs scored on a bases-loaded walk and a run-scoring double play.
Hector Rondon worked the ninth for his 10th save, getting the final out when catcher David Ross picked pinch hitter Clint Robinson off first base.
Right fielder Bryce Harper drove in Washington's run on a sixth-inning, bases-loaded groundout that replays appeared to show he beat out. Washington already had used its challenge.
Nationals infielder Anthony Rendon had a single and a double in his return from the disabled list, but infield teammate Yunel Escobar departed after failing to check his swing on a first-inning strikeout.
Washington left fielder Michael Taylor had three singles.
The Cubs took a 2-0 lead in the first. Right fielder Junior Lake drew a bases-loaded walk, and shortstop Starlin Castro grounded into a run-scoring double play.
Rendon singled in his first at-bat in the bottom of first, but he was caught stealing to end the inning after Escobar struck out trying to check his swing.
Escobar left with an apparent injury on the play. Rendon moved to third base to begin the second inning, and Danny Espinosa entered at second base.
NOTES: The Nationals recalled INF Anthony Rendon (knee, oblique) from the 15-day disabled list after he missed the first 53 games of the season. Rendon batted .287 with 21 homers and 83 RBIs in 2014, his second in the majors. ... Washington also recalled RHP A.J. Cole from Triple-A Syracuse and optioned RHP Taylor Jordan to Syracuse and INF Wilmer Difo to Double-A Harrisburg. ... Cubs manager Joe Maddon put C David Ross in the lineup for the third straight game with Chicago facing its second left-handed starter during that stretch. ... Nationals RHP Tanner Roark (1-2, 2.59 ERA) goes against Cubs LHP Tsuyoshi Wada (0-0, 2.30) in the second of the four-game series on Friday. Roark has allowed three runs in two starts (11 innings) since moving from the bullpen to the rotation. Wada has allowed four runs in three starts (15 2/3 innings) since returning from the disabled list (groin).