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Washington Nationals lose in walk-off fashion, Cubs sweep 4-game series

By Matt Weyrich

May 8, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Javier Baez (9) hits a walk off home run against the Washington Nationals during the thirteenth inning at Wrigley Field. The Cubs won 4-3 in thirteen innings. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
May 8, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Cubs third baseman Javier Baez (9) hits a walk off home run against the Washington Nationals during the thirteenth inning at Wrigley Field. The Cubs won 4-3 in thirteen innings. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Washington Nationals fell to the Chicago Cubs 4-3 in 13 innings on Mother’s Day afternoon. Tanner Roark faced off against Jake Arrieta, but Javier Baez made the headlines with a walk-off homer to give Chicago the four-game sweep.

The Washington Nationals were able to make Arrieta (6-0, 1.13 ERA) work early, forcing the Cubs’ ace to throw 64 pitches in the first three innings. Washington broke open the scoring in the top of the third. After Bryce Harper drew a one-out walk, Ryan Zimmerman brought him around to score from first with a hustle double down the left field line that hit the glove of Chicago third baseman Kris Bryant. 1-0 Washington.

The away team came up swinging again in the fourth. Wilson Ramos and Danny Espinosa hit back-to-back singles to lead off the frame. Three hitters later, Anthony Rendon hit an RBI-groundout with the bases loaded to bring in Ramos. 2-0 Washington.

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Chicago immediately responded in their half of the inning. Ben Zobrist reached on a Daniel Murphy fielding error, then advanced all the way to third on consecutive groundouts behind him. Roark (2-2, 2.03) then hit the backstop with a wild pitch and Zobrist made it home without a play. 2-1 Washington.

In the fifth, Murphy made up for his mishap in the field with a leadoff double off the ivy in center field. After Jayson Werth moved the former Met to third with a deep fly ball to right, Ramos drove him in with an RBI-single. 3-1 Washington.

Tanner Roark would last six strong innings for the Nats, allowing one unearned run four hits, two walks, and seven strikeouts in 110 pitches. Arrieta, on the other hand, only lasted five frames for the Cubbies, but limited the damage with three runs allowed (two earned) behind six hits, four walks, and seven K’s.

Oliver Perez took the mound for Washington in the bottom of the seventh. He allowed Trevor Cahill to reach on an infield single, then hit Dexter Fowler with a pitch to bring up Jason Heyward. Heyward sacrificed the baserunners to second and third, prompting Dusty Baker to bring in Yusmeiro Petit to preserve the lead. Unfortunately for the Nats, Bryant would hit a single to right field, bringing in both runners and tying the game at 3-3.

For the next five innings, the Nats and Cubs remained in a deadlocked tie.

Petit managed the hill for three strong frames, throwing 56 pitches to keep the Nats in the game. Jonathan Papelbon came in for the eleventh, and Chicago almost ended things. Kris Bryant hit a double to deep center field, and with Heyward coming around to score, defensive replacement Michael Taylor gunned the ball off the hop to cut-off man Danny Espinosa. Espi then fired a bullet home to Ramos to get Heyward as he slid into the base.

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Papelbon would stay in for the twelfth, working around a leadoff walk to keep the Cubs off the board. Baker then turned to Blake Treinen for the bottom of the thirteenth. He would get Travis Wood to strike out swinging to begin the inning, but Javier Baez sent the home crowd into a frenzy with a walk-off homer to end the game.

Game Notes: Bryce Harper did not record an official at-bat, drawing six walks and a hit-by pitch… The Nats stranded 21 baserunners over the course of the afternoon, going a combined 1-19 with runners in scoring position… The Cubs bullpen combined to throw eight scoreless innings.

Next: Washington Nationals Reaction: Revere Makes First Impact On Lineup

Next Up: The Nationals return home after a 5-5 road trip to host the Detroit Tigers Monday night. Stephen Strasburg (5-0, 2.36) returns to mound to take on Anibal Sanchez (3-3, 5.87) with first pitched scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.

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