Chicago Cubs Top Washington Nationals in Nailbiter Finale

The Chicago Cubs held on for a series victory with a nailbiter in the nation's capital. Indicative of the squad of the two teams playing, the difference maker: P.J. Higgins, a 29-year-old rookie with one of the biggest hits of his career.

With Drew Smyly looking to continue his run of good form on the mound, the Cubs were able to keep a weak Nationals lineup mostly silent through five innings.

Smyly, who'd yet to allow a run in the month of August finally cracked in the second inning in D.C. Washington catcher Keibert Ruiz, acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2021 in the trade that saw Max Scherzer and Trea Turner head to L.A., doubled with one out to get himself in scoring position.

Following him, Cesar Hernandez jumped on Smyly for an RBI single that scored his 24-year-old countryman.

The Nationals had a 1-0 lead, but it would be the only offense they could muster off Smyly for three more innings.

With Chicago's lineup similarly silent, thanks to the efforts of Washington pitcher Cory Abbott, the game remained 1-0 through the fourth, that is until nine-hole hitter P.J. Higgins came to the plate.

Higgins, who had a .861 OPS coming into Wednesday's contest, had only 141 Major League plate appearances to his name at age 29. Despite a grand slam and five career homers, he had never hit a home run to give his team the lead when trailing.

Now, with two outs and Rafael Ortega on first, Higgins crushed a ball to deep left-center field at Nationals Park that landed in the bullpen for a go-ahead homer that gave the Cubbies a 2-1 lead.

However, they would not retain that lead for long. When Smyly was pulled after 5 1/3 innings pitched, Erich Uelmen came in to replace him with a runner on second. Nationals first baseman Luke Voit hit an infield single to advance that runner to third and following him designated hitter Nelson Cruz grounded into an inning-ending double play... or did he?

Cruz grounded a ball to the shortstop, Nico Hoerner who tossed the ball to second baseman Zack McKinstry for the double play, but the ball was hit just softly enough, that upon review, Cruz was able to beat out McKinstry's throw to first.

The Nationals scored on the play to make it a 2-2 ballgame, just in time for the Cubs to retake the lead.

Leading off the seventh, Franmil Reyes hit a ground-rule double, but unable to advance the runner were Nelson Velasquez and Patrick Wisdom. Thus, Yan Gomes strode to the plate with the winning run in scoring position.

His single drove home Reyes, the run that would make the difference in the game.

Cubs pitchers Steven Brault and Rowan Wick then went on to throw three innings of dominant relief, striking out two and allowing just one hit, the Nationals never truly threatened Chicago's lead.

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