WASHINGTON (AP) — Albert Almora Jr. drove in the go-ahead run with a ninth-inning double, Dexter Fowler had two hits and the Chicago Cubs defeated the Washington Nationals 4-3 on Tuesday night.
Addison Russell led off the ninth with a walk from Sammy Solis (1-2) and was sacrificed to second before Almora, who entered the game in the eighth inning, lined a shot to left center.
Jason Heyward provided a two-run single for Chicago, which evened the three-game series between division leaders.
Washington, which had won four straight, tied it in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Anthony Rendon off closer Hector Rondon.
Rondon (1-1) pitched the final 1 2/3 innings for the win.
Washington was without closer Jonathan Papelbon, who was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right intercostal strain.
Ben Revere’s sacrifice fly in the seventh pulled Washington within 3-2.
Chicago’s John Lackey, making his 400th career start, left after hitting a batter and allowing a double to start the seventh. He gave up two runs and four hits while striking out seven and walking two.
Gio Gonzalez gave up three runs and five hits over 6 1/3 innings. The Nationals starter struck out nine and walked four.
Bryce Harper was 0 for 2 with two walks and scored a run.
Chicago’s Anthony Rizzo (0 for 5) saw his 10-game hitting streak end.
The Cubs bunched three hits with two outs in the third, starting with a single by Lackey and ending with Heyward’s two-run single.
David Ross singled home Ben Zobrist to make it 3-0 in the fourth.
Washington’s first run came on Jayson Werth’s third-inning bases-loaded sacrifice fly.
Lackey hadn’t allowed a run in his previous two starts, covering 13 2/3 innings.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Nationals: Reinstated RHP Matt Belisle, who missed 45 games with a right calf strain, following a rehabilitation assignment.
UP NEXT
Cubs: Jason Hammel (7-2, 2.36) starts in the series finale. He’s 9-0 with a 3.16 ERA in 12 career starts against the Nationals.
Nationals: Stephen Strasburg (10-0, 3.03) has won 13 straight decisions dating to last season. He hasn’t faced the Cubs since August 2013.
400 Club
Lackey joined Bartolo Colon (479) and C.C. Sabathia (462) as the only active pitchers with at least 400 starts.
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