Almora's double in ninth lifts Cubs
WASHINGTON -- Albert Almora Jr. had an RBI double with one out in the top of the ninth to break a tie as the Chicago Cubs beat the Washington Nationals 4-3 on Tuesday, evening the series between the first-place clubs before a sellout crowd of 41,955.
In his 12th at-bat of the season, reserve Almora hit the first pitch from reliever Sammy Solis (1-2) into left-center to score Addison Russell, who led off with a walk and went to second on a sacrifice bunt by David Ross.
Washington's Anthony Rendon tied the game at 3 with a sacrifice fly in the eighth off Cubs closer Hector Rondon (1-1), who came back in the ninth to get the last three outs. The Nationals were without closer Jonathan Papelbon, who went on the disabled list earlier in the day.
A sacrifice fly by Washington's Ben Revere in the seventh off reliever Pedro Strop cut the Cubs lead to 3-2. But Strop fanned Jayson Werth for the final out of the inning with a runner on second. Travis Wood got one out in the eighth and before Rondon was summoned.
Washington starter Gio Gonzalez yielded five hits, four walks and three runs in 6 1/3 innings before fellow left-hander Oliver Perez came on in the seventh to get two outs. The last win for the erratic Gonzalez came May 2.
Cubs veteran John Lackey, making his 400th career start, gave up four hits in six innings with two walks and seven strikeouts. Dexter Fowler had two hits for the Cubs, who have the best record in the majors. Backup catcher Jose Lobaton, who normally catches Gonzalez, had two hits for the Nationals.
The Cubs (44-19) have won five of six this year against Washington (40-25), which fell to 7-9 against the National League Central. The Nationals had won their previous five home games.
The Cubs took a 2-0 lead in the third as Jason Heyward had a two-run single. His hit scored Lackey, who had a two-out single and took third on a double by Fowler.
Werth's sacrifice fly in the bottom of third pulled Washington to within 2-1.
Ross gave Chicago a 3-1 lead with an RBI single in the fourth
Lackey won his previous three starts and did not allow a run in his last two appearances, covering 13 2/3 innings. He entered Tuesday with a 2.63 ERA and had not lost since May 11 - by a score of 1-0 to the San Diego Padres.
Gonzalez entered the game with losses in his last four starts, having allowed 21 earned runs in 22 2/3 innings.
NOTES: The Nationals placed RHP Jonathan Papelbon (right intercostal strain) on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday and activated RHP Matt Belisle from the disabled list. Papelbon is 23-for-27 in save chances since joining the Nationals last July. It is his first time on the DL in his career. "I'm in the best hands I can be in. I think we'll have a good game plan. I'm pretty comfortable that I'll be able to come back stronger," Papelbon said. ... Washington manager Dusty Baker guided the Cubs to a record of 322-326 as the skipper for four seasons from 2003-06, including a trip to the 2003 National League Championship Series against the then-Florida Marlins. ... Nationals bench coach Chris Speier (1985-86) and assistant hitting coach Jacque Jones (2006-07) spent two seasons with the Cubs as players. ... Chicago RHP Jason Hammel (7-2, 2.36 ERA) faces Washington RHP Stephen Strasburg (10-0, 3.03) in the series finale Wednesday. ... The Cubs entered Tuesday with a team ERA of 2.63, the best mark in the National League. The Nationals were third at 3.19. .... Cubs CF Dexter Fowler started and batted leadoff in his 1,000th career game. He singled to right to lead off the game and doubled in the third.