Strasburg dominates as Nationals defeat Cubs

Stephen Strasburg yielded just one earned run and four hits in eight innings, while Juan Soto had two hits and drove in three runs, as the Washington Nationals beat the Chicago Cubs 5-2 on Saturday. Strasburg (4-3) struck out the side in the third and finished with seven strikeouts.

Sean Doolittle pitched the ninth to earn his eighth save after his outing was twice interrupted by Cubs manager Joe Maddon, who filed an official protest because the Nationals' left-hander was tapping his toe on the mound during his delivery. Jon Lester (3-2) allowed five runs on 10 hits in 4 1/3 innings. In August of last season, he gave up eight earned runs on 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings in his only start of 2018 against the Nationals. In his previous five starts of this season before Saturday, Lester gave up just a single earned run, including none in his previous three starts.

Brian Dozier hit a solo homer in the second to give the Nationals a 1-0 lead. It was his sixth of the season, with five of those solo shots. It was also his first homer since May 4 as Dozier went 2-for-4 and now has just 10 RBIs in 142 at-bats. Washington scored three runs in the third off Lester. Trea Turner led off with a single and Adam Eaton reached on a bunt hit, with Turner going to third on a throwing error by David Bote.

Anthony Rendon walked and Howie Kendrick followed with an RBI double for a 2-0 lead. Soto followed with a two-run double and a 4-0 lead. Soto also had an RBI single in the fifth to give Washington a 5-1 lead. The Cubs scored an unearned run in the fifth as Nationals catcher Yan Gomes had two passed balls. The second allowed Jayson Heyward to score from third, with Addison Russell trying to score from second as the ball bounced toward the Cubs' dugout. Rendon threw to Gomes to get Russell at the plate.

Bote hit a solo homer in the sixth to trim the margin to 5-2, but Strasburg retired the last nine batters he faced. It was the fourth homer of the year for Bote and his first since April 27 at Arizona. 

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