09/19/24 10:32:00
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09/19 22:30 CDT Cody Bellinger knocks in 3 as Cubs beat Nationals 7-6 to stave
off postseason elimination
Cody Bellinger knocks in 3 as Cubs beat Nationals 7-6 to stave off postseason
elimination
By SCOTT HELD
Associated Press
CHICAGO (AP) --- Seiya Suzuki homered, Cody Bellinger drove in three runs and
the Chicago Cubs topped the Washington Nationals 7-6 on Thursday night to stave
off elimination from the postseason.
Joey Gallo hit a three-run home run for Washington, which has dropped four
straight.
The Cubs trailed 6-5 after Gallo's shot in the sixth off reliever Drew Smyly,
but took the lead for good with a two-run seventh. Bellinger singled in the
tying run and Isaac Paredes came up next to tag reliever Robert Garcia (3-6)
with an RBI groundout.
Dansby Swanson added three hits and scored four times for Chicago, which
remained seven games out of the final NL wild card berth with nine to play
after New York and Arizona won earlier Thursday.
Bellinger said the Cubs aren't worried about their postseason hopes dying as
early as this weekend.
"You still want to get the job done and make plays for your pitcher," he said.
Ethan Roberts (1-0), the third of five Cubs relievers, got his first career win
and Porter Hodge worked the ninth for his sixth save.
"Top of the lineup did a heck of a job, for sure," Cubs manager Craig Counsell
said after his first four hitters accounted for 10 hits and five RBIs.
The teams swapped runs in the first inning before trading two-run frames in the
third. In Chicago's half of the third, Suzuki hit his 21st home run of the
season, a two-run shot off starter Patrick Corbin.
"I'm seeing the ball well," Suzuki said through a translator after extending
his hitting streak to 10 games. "I feel like I can get a little more
aggressive."
Chicago added two more runs to make it 5-3 before Gallo connected off Drew
Smyly in the sixth to give the Nationals a brief 6-5 lead.
CJ Abrams had four hits and scored twice while rookie Darren Baker added three
hits and scored a run for Washington.
"We swung the bats well, I thought we ran the bases well," Washington manager
Dave Martinez. "Keep swinging the bats like that and we'll be fine."
Chicago starter Javier Assad allowed seven hits, three runs and a walk while
striking out five in the first five innings.
Corbin surrendered eight hits and five runs with a walk while striking out four
in 4 1/3 innings.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Nationals: OF Jacob Young left with shoulder soreness after getting caught
stealing in the second. He'll be evaluated further on Friday. ... Catcher
Keibert Ruiz took an Isaac Paredes foul ball to his groin in the third but
remained behind the plate after a once-over from the training staff.
Cubs: Paredes appeared to have his left hand bent back in the third when James
Wood slid into third base, but he stayed in the game and made the ensuing play
in the field.
UP NEXT
The series continues Friday afternoon when Washington's Trevor Williams (5-0,
2.22 ERA) makes his first start since May 30 against fellow RHP Jameson Taillon
(10-8, 3.54).
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
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