Werth's hit in 12th lifts Nationals over Cubs
WASHINGTON -- Jayson Werth had an RBI single in the last of the 12th inning off Adam Warren as the Washington Nationals scored two in the frame to beat the Chicago Cubs 5-4 on Wednesday, taking two of three games in the series between the top two teams in the National League.
The winning pitcher was Yusmeiro Petit (2-0), who gave up an RBI single in the top of the 12th to Addison Russell that gave the Cubs a 4-3 lead. Michael A. Taylor tied the game at 4 in the 12th with an RBI single off loser Trevor Cahill (0-2). Werth smashed a hit to right-center to score Taylor, who was running on the pitch.
Wilson Ramos (two hits) tied the game with a single in the ninth off Cubs closer Hector Rondon, scoring Bryce Harper, to make it 3-3. Rondon fanned Anthony Rendon to send the game into extra innings. Anthony Rizzo hit a two-run homer off lefty Oliver Perez in the top of ninth to give the Cubs a 3-2 lead.
Stephen Drew hit a pinch-hit homer off reliever Pedro Strop with one out in eighth to give the Nationals a 2-1 edge. It was a club record ninth pinch-hit homer of the year for the Nationals, with three coming from Drew.
Matt Belisle entered the game in the ninth for the Nationals and gave up a leadoff double to Kris Bryant. That brought on Perez, who gave up the homer to Rizzo one day after Washington closer Jonathan Papelbon went on the disabled list.
The Nationals tied the game at 1 in the first as speedy Ben Revere led off with a single, stole second, went to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch.
Ben Zobrist led off the game with a homer to right off Stephen Strasburg. It came on a 1-2 fastball as Zobrist went deep for the ninth time this season.
Strasburg gave up one run and six hits in seven innings with eight strikeouts before Felipe Rivero took in the eighth. Jason Hammel, the Cubs starter, also allowed one run in seven innings, with five hits allowed and four strikeouts.
Strasburg has won his first 10 decisions this year and has not lost since Sept. 9, 2015 against the New York Mets. The No. 1 overall draft pick has won his last 13 decisions.
Hammel retired 13 batters in a row after giving up a leadoff single to Ramos in the second. The streak was broken with a two-out single in the sixth by Werth, but after a replay challenge he was called out at second trying to stretch the hit into a double. Hammel is 9-0 in 13 starts against the Nationals in his career.
NOTES: The Nationals entered with a National League-high 87 home runs (tied with St. Louis) and the Cubs began the day with the best team ERA at 2.64. ... Chicago starters have gone 19 games in a row allowing three runs or less. ... The Nationals have a league-low 23 errors. ... The Cubs are off Thursday and play host to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday, with RHP Jake Arrieta (10-1, 1.86 ERA) pitching at Wrigley Field. LHP Francisco Liriano (4-6, 4.92) goes for the Pirates. ... Washington starts a three-city road trip Thursday at San Diego, with RHP Tanner Roark (5-4, 2.93) going against Padres RHP Erik Johnson (0-3, 7.71), who will make his first start in the Pacific time zone. The trip takes on special meaning for Nationals SS Danny Espinosa, who grew up in Orange County and plans to have family and friends at games in San Diego and Los Angeles. "You know in San Diego it is not going to rain and it is a beautiful park. It is always a treat to go out there," said Espinosa, who played at Long Beach State.