Washington Nationals pitcher MacKenzie Gore delivered an outstanding performance on Saturday, striking out nine in seven innings as the Nationals defeated the Chicago Cubs 5-1. Joey Gallo contributed with a three-run homer, and José Tena had three hits for Washington. The victory ended a five-game losing streak for the Nationals.
Chicago’s hopes for a postseason spot were dashed with the loss, as the Mets secured a win to eliminate the Cubs from contention. The Nationals played without All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams, who was demoted to the minors due to an internal issue. Manager Dave Martinez supported Abrams and stated that he won’t be playing for the big league team for the remainder of the season.
Gore, who earned his second consecutive win, was dominant on the mound and almost had a no-hitter until Patrick Wisdom hit a home run for the Cubs in the seventh inning. Gallo praised Gore for his talent and work ethic, highlighting his dedication to the game.
Washington’s offense was strong, with Vargas driving in a run in the second inning and the team scoring four runs in the sixth to secure the win. Kyle Hendricks, the Cubs’ pitcher, allowed four runs in 5 1/3 innings, possibly marking his last home start for the team as he is eligible for free agency after the season.
The Nationals improved their record to 1-5 against the Cubs this year and will face off in the series finale with the Cubs pitching Shota Imanaga and Nationals Jake Irvin.
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