The Chicago Cubs defeated the Washington Nationals 7-6 in the opener of a three-game series on Friday night. Cody Bellinger homered to cap a seven-run second inning for the Cubs, who have been on a hot streak, winning 18 of their last 26 games. Dylan Crews homered for the Nationals, who tried to mount a comeback in the ninth inning but fell short. Cubs starter Shota Imanaga earned the win, pitching six innings and striking out eight. Jake Irvin took the loss for the Nationals after allowing seven runs. Washington shortstop CJ Abrams struggled at the plate, hitting .178 since the All-Star break. In terms of injuries, Cubs pitcher Ethan Roberts had light symptoms from ankle soreness, while Nationals pitcher Trevor Williams is set to throw a simulated game. The next matchup will feature RHP Javier Assad for the Cubs and rookie LHP DJ Herz for the Nationals. The game marked another strong performance for the Cubs, who have been on a roll lately, scoring 80 runs in their last eight games. The victory puts them at 6-1 on their current road trip, and they look to continue their winning ways in the upcoming games.
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Photo credit wtop.com
Cody Bellinger’s home run seals 7-run 2nd inning lead as Cubs win series opener against Nationals, 7-6
