May 08--Addison Russell went 2-for-4 with three RBIs to help lift the Chicago Cubs to an 8-5 victory over the Washington Nationals on Saturday at Wrigley Field. The win was the Cubs' sixth consecutive--a season-high streak--and improved their overall record to 23-6. Ryan Kalish added two RBIs and Kris Bryant launched a solo home run for the Cubs.
Ryan Zimmerman knocked in two runs for the Nationals.
At the plate
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning and the game tied at 5-5, Russell doubled down the right-field line to give the Cubs a lead they didn't relinquish.
On the mound
Cubs starter Jason Hammel had a streak of victories in eight consecutive starts against the Nationals snapped. Hammel allowed three runs on four hits in five innings. The veteran walked four and struck out three in the no-decision.
In the field
Trailing 4-2 in the sixth, the Cubs turned a nifty 2-5-2-4-5 double play to escape a jam and keep the game close.
The quote
"You can still puncture the wind once in a while but you have to be able to move the baseball and force the defense to play and execute. I think we've done that. That's part of what we got done in spring training. I've seen a lot of that coming out of camp so that would be something you want to continue moving forward." -- Cubs manager Joe Maddon on playing with the wind blowing in at Wrigley Field
Up next
Vs. Nationals, 1:20 p.m. Sunday; WGN-Ch. 9.
