Abrams, Nats squeeze previous Cubs for 2nd straight night time, 2-1

WASHINGTON — CJ Abrams had a tiebreaking RBI single within the seventh inning for the second consecutive recreation, and the Washington Nationals beat the Chicago Cubs 2-1 on a moist and unseasonably chilly Wednesday night time.

After Marcus Stroman pitched six crisp innings for the Cubs, the Nationals went forward on 4 pitches by Adbert Alzolay (1-1). Lane Thomas tripled down the left-field line, the primary extra-base hit of the sport, and Abrams lined the following pitch to heart.

Jake Irvin held the Cubs to 2 hits over 4 1/3 innings in his main league debut, and 5 Washington pitchers restricted Chicago to 6 singles. Carl Edwards Jr. (1-1) retired the aspect within the seventh, Hunter Harvey labored the eighth and Kyle Finnegan induced a game-ending double-play grounder from Patrick Wisdom for his seventh save.

The Cubs have misplaced 5 of six, all to NL East foes, and fell to .500 for the primary time since April 9.

Irvin, a 6-foot-6, 26-year-old right-hander, was rated by Baseball America because the prospect with one of the best management within the Nationals’ system, however his first pitch hit the “O” in Nico Hoerner’s identify on the again of his jersey. Irvin flashed a smile as Hoerner jogged to first.

Irvin walked 4 batters and was pulled after his second stroll of the fifth. Andres Machado got here on and bought a double-play grounder on his first pitch to finish the menace.

The Nationals put runners on second and third with one out within the fifth, however Stroman struck out Alex Call and retired Luis García on a broken-bat grounder to brief. Stroman pounded his glove in satisfaction as he walked off the mound.

Stroman allowed one run on 5 hits. He has given up two runs or fewer in six of his seven begins however is winless since April 7.

Seiya Suzuki had an RBI single within the first for Chicago. The Nationals tied it within the second when Joey Meneses singled, moved to 3rd on a single by Jeimer Candelario and scored on Dominic Smith’s double-play grounder.

IN MEMORIAM

The Nationals held a second of silence earlier than the sport for longtime group doctor Dr. Bruce Thomas, who died Tuesday night time of problems from a latest surgical procedure.

ROSTER MOVE

The Cubs despatched C Luis Torrens to the Baltimore Orioles for money.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cubs: C Yan Gomes, who was hit within the head by a backswing on Monday night time, was positioned on the seven-day concussion injured checklist, retroactive to Tuesday. Chicago recalled RHP Javier Assad from Triple-A Iowa. … RHP Kyle Hendricks (proper shoulder) made a rehab look for Iowa on Wednesday, permitting 4 runs in 2 2/3 innings. … RHP Codi Heuer (Tommy John surgical procedure) was set to throw one inning on the Cubs’ coaching facility in Arizona.

Nationals: Reinstated INF Ildemaro Vargas (left shoulder) from the 10-day injured checklist and optioned SS Jeter Downs to Triple-A Rochester.

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