Chicago took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning off of Gio Gonzalez, but it could have been more.
Jon Jay led off with a double, moved on a wild pitch, then scored on an one-out grounder by Anthony Rizzo.
Hereafter, the bases got loaded when Willson Contreras walked, Albert Almora, Jr. singled and Addison Russell also walked.
But they were left behind when a grounder ended the at bat.
After the Cubs were retired in order in the top of the second inning, Washington struck with four runs in its second at bat off of Kyle Hendricks.
Daniel Murphy led off with a homerun to bring the Nationals alongside.
Hereafter, Anthony Rendon and Matt Wieters both singled.
A visit to the mound followed from Pitching Coach Chris Bosio, but moments later, Michael A. Taylor hit a 3-run homerun to make it a 4-1 score.
Taylor had hit a grand slam on Wednesday.
Hendricks followed with two strikeouts, but then gave up a double to Jayson Werth and walked Bryce Harper intentionally.
Another strikeout ended the at bat.
Chicago responded immediately, scoring two runs in the top of the third ining.
Kris Bryant led off with a double and Willson Contreras walked with one out.
The bases then got loaded when Albert Almora, Jr. also walked.
Next, a run was scored on a grounder by Addison Russell and a wild pitch accounted for the next run to make it a 4-3 score.
With a runner on third base, the inning ended with a strikeout.
In the top of the fourth inning, Matt Albers relieved Gio Gonzalez and retired the side.
In the next inning, Max Scherzer became the next pitcher for the Nationals.
He was the starter in Game 3 last Monday.
With two outs, Scherzer ran into problems in the fifth and gave up four runs.
Willson Contreras and pinch-hitter Ben Zobrist singled, then both scored when Addison Russell drove the ball into leftfield for a double, which gave Chicago a 5-4 lead.
With first base open, Jason Heyward was intentionally walked.
Hereafter, everything went wrong for the Nationals.
Scherzer struckout Javier Báez, but reached on a passed ball, which was followed by a throwing error from catcher Matt Wieters to first base, which enabled Russell to score.
The bases then got loaded when pinch-hitter Tommy La Stella got first base on catcher's interference.
Next, a run was scored when Jon Jay was hit by a pitch and that made it a 7-4 score.
The inning finally ended with a pop-out.
...Trea Turner had two basehits for Washington...
...On the photo, he plays for Team USA in the...
...2012 Haarlem Baseball Week in Haarlem (Netherlands)...
...There, he was a teammate of Chicago's Kris Bryant...
(© Photo: Henk Seppen) |
Chicago added another run in the top of the sixth off of new pitcher Brandon Kintzler, also with two outs.
Ben Zobrist then walked and scored on a following double by Addison Russell.
In the bottom of the sixth, Washington scored again and they also did it with two outs.
Jayson Werth then walked, which brought in new pitcher Mike Montgomery, who gave up a double to Bryce Harper.
With runners on second and third base, a walk to Ryan Zimmerman ended in a wild pitch, which enabled Werth to score.
Daniel Murphy then doubled to bring in Harper and make it an 8-6 score.
With runners on second and third base, next hitter Anthony Rendon was walked intentionally, despite the fact that he was representing the go-ahead run.
That didn't backfire, as a flyout ended the inning and three runners were left behind.
Chicago immediately got a run back in the top of the seventh off of new pitcher Sammy Solis.
With one out, pinch-hitter Kyle Schwarber and Jon Jay singled to put runners on the corners.
Ryan Madson then took over the pitching.
He got a force play-grounder from Kris Bryant that brought in Schwarber and made it a 9-6 score.
Washington got another un back in the bottom of the seventh.
New pitcher Carl Edwards, Jr. walked lead-off hitter Michael A. Taylor, then was relieved hereafter by José Quintana, who was the starter in Game 3 on Monday.
After a flyout, he gave up a single to Trea Turner, then got the bases loaded when he walked Jayson Werth.
A run was scored on a sacrifice fly from Bryce Harper to make it a 9-7 score.
Another pitching change followed and while this was only the seventh inning, closer Wade Davis was brought in.
He ended the inning by striking out Ryan Zimmerman.
In the bottom of the eighth, the Nationals scored again.
Daniel Murphy and Anthony Rendon began the at bat with walks.
Pinch-hitter Adam Lind then grounded into a double play, which brought Murphy to third base.
On the next pitch, Home Plate Umpire Jerry Layne was hit full on the front on his mask by a ball that was missed by tha catcher and needed some attention.
After a brief delay, Michael A. Taylor made contact on the next pitch and singled in Murphy to make it a 9-8 score!
Next hitter José Lobaton then also singled to put runners on first and second base.
Moments later, catcher Willson Contreras threw the ball to first baseman Anthony Rizzo for a risky pick-off attempt.
A very close play at first base followed and 1B Umpire Will Little ruled Lobaton safe.
But Chicago Manager Joe Maddon challenged the call, which was overturned after reviewing the replays, as Lobaton's foot just came off the bag during the tag.
With that, a crucial out-call ended the inning!
In the bottom of the ninth, Wade Davis retired the side.
After a flyout, the closer struckout Jayson Werth and Bryce Harper to secure the minimal lead!
|
Chicago nips Washington to advance to League Championship Series
WASHINGTON, D.C. (USA) -
Chicago Cubs nipped Washington Nationals 9-8 on Thursday (October 12) in the deciding Game Five of the National League Division Series.
With the win, the reigning World Series-champion advances to the best-of-seven National League Championship Series against Los Angeles Dodgers, which opens on Saturday in Los Angeles.
Chicago opened the Series on Friday with a 3-0 shutout-win.
Washington then won 6-3 on Saturday-evening to even the Series.
On Monday-evening, Chicago won 2-1 to take a 2-1 lead in the NLDS.
On Tuesday, the fourth game was canceled due to inclement weather and was re-scheduled for Wednesday.
Washington then shutout Chicago 5-0 to force a fifth game.