WASHINGTON _ After losing shortstop Javier Baez to a bruised left heel Sunday night, the Cubs held on for a 6-5 victory over the Nationals.
Baez, who is batting .319 with 11 home runs and 31 RBIs, hurt his heel while charging a grounder and making an off-balance throw to retire Jeremy Hellickson in the third inning.
Baez was in obvious pain but stayed in the game, only to experience discomfort after making a sweeping tag on Gerardo Parra at second base in the fifth.
Baez was pulled in the bottom of the sixth, ending his streak of playing all 395 2/3 innings at shortstop this season.
Addison Russell, Baez's replacement, committed a throwing error on a weak grounder by Adam Eaton that preceded a three-run homer by Anthony Rendon.
It was the first appearance of the season at shortstop for Russell, the Cubs' starter at that position for the last 3 { years.
Cubs starting pitcher Kyle Hendricks, who retired the first 11 batters and didn't allow a hit for four innings, ran into trouble in the sixth and was pulled with runners at second and third with two outs. But reliever Brandon Kintzler induced Brian Dozier to hit a soft fly to left.
Hendricks entered the game with one earned run allowed in his last 25 innings and had pitched at least eight innings in each of his three previous starts.
Kintzler allowed a home run to Howie Kendrick to start the seventh that cut the Cubs' lead to one.
Steve Cishek pitched 2 1/3 innings to earn his fourth save.
The Cubs drew three consecutive walks to start the game and took a 1-0 lead when Baez grounded into a fielder's choice. They added another run in the second on a single by Heyward, a double by Albert Almora Jr. and a sacrifice fly by Kyle Schwarber.
Anthony Rizzo led off the third with a home run, his 11th, that landed in the Cubs' bullpen.
Kris Bryant was drilled in the left leg on a pitch from reliever Kyle McGowin in the fourth and fell to his knees before walking slowly to first. Bryant managed to finish the game.
The victory allowed the Cubs to maintain a 1 {-game lead over the Brewers in the National League Central. They return home Monday night to open a seven-game homestand against Jake Arrieta and the Phillies.
