Cubs Win 4-2 As Hammel Stays Undefeated Against Nationals
WASHINGTON (AP) — Dexter Fowler had two hits, scored twice and Jason Hammel continued his mastery of the Washington Nationals in the Chicago Cubs' 4-2 win on Saturday.
Hammel (5-2) improved to 9-0 with a 3.01 ERA in 11 starts against the Nationals. Anthony Rizzo and Jonathan Herrera each had two hits and drove in a run for Chicago.
Hammel allowed a run on five hits in eight-plus innings, striking out seven and walking two. He departed after Bryce Harper hit his 19th homer of the season to open the ninth.
After Hector Rondon walked Anthony Rendon, Pedro Strop came on and recorded his second save.
Wilson Ramos also homered for the Nationals.
With starting pitchers Stephen Strasburg and Doug Fister on the disabled list, the Nationals called on 22-year-old prospect Joe Ross (0-1) to make his Major League debut. Ross, who was 2-2 with a 2.81 ERA at Double-A Harrisburg, retired the first nine Cubs, but allowed a run in the fourth and two in the fifth.
He allowed three runs on six hits over five innings and struck out four without a walk. Ross threw 91 pitches as his older brother, pitcher Tyson Ross of the Padres, watched from the stands.
A first-round pick by the Padres in 2011, Joe Ross was acquired from San Diego last winter as part of a three-team trade involving Tampa Bay.
Washington seemed ready to turn the tables on Hammel early on. Ramos slammed his first pitch of the second inning to left center for his fourth home run.
Chicago tied it in the fourth. Fowler and Rizzo singled to put runners on first and third with no outs in the fourth.
Kris Bryant's smash to third deflected off Anthony Rendon for an RBI single.
Chicago went ahead 3-1 in the fifth when Fowler singled home Herrera and scored on double by Rizzo.
The Nationals couldn't convert after a leadoff double in the eighth. Hammel fanned Ryan Zimmerman, 1 for 21 over his last six games, for the final out.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Cubs: OF Jorge Soler (on the 15-day DL with a left ankle sprain) is optimistic about the pace of his recovery. "I'm going to keep working hard to get back," he said through an interpreter. "(Hopefully) I feel good after my 15 days."
Nationals: RHP Stephen Strasburg (neck tightness) threw his first bullpen session since going on the disabled list May 30. Manager Matt Williams said he threw 30 pitches, using all of his pitches, and "came out of it feeling good." . INF Yunel Escobar was out of the lineup for the second straight game. He was scheduled to take batting practice to test his sore right wrist.
UP NEXT
Cubs: RHP Kyle Hendricks (1-2, 3.99) allowed a run over seven innings in a no-decision against Washington on May 26.
Nationals: RHP Jordan Zimmerman (5-2) hasn't lost since April 18, winning four straight decisions and lowering his ERA from 6.14 to 2.88.
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