Nationals 2 - 9 Cubs
Final
  for this game

Nationals go for three in a row

Aug 23, 2008 - 10:22 AM Washingon (46-83) at Chi Cubs (78-50) 1:05 p.m. EDT

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Three days ago, a three-game winning streak was the furthest thing from the minds of the Washington Nationals. Now, it could become a reality.

After exploding for 13 runs in Friday's series opener against the Chicago Cubs, the Nationals will go for their third win in a row on Saturday. That comes on the heels of a 12-game losing streak that finally ended on Thursday when they topped the Philadelphia Phillies, 4-3.

The Nationals, baseball's lowest-scoring club, suddenly found its stroke against the Cubs. Willie Harris hit two homers and drove in six runs and the streaking Ron Belliard had four hits and scored three runs to pace the offensive attack.

But things will only get tougher against the top team in the National League. All-Star Ryan Dempster (14-5, 2.92 ERA) takes the mound for Chicago looking for his third win in a row. He struck out 10 in six innings on August 17, a 9-2 victory over the Florida Marlins.

It has been a resurgent year for Dempster, who was relegated to the bullpen in 2004 after washing out as a starter in Cincinnati. After mixed results in three years as the Cubs' closer, he returned to the rotation this season and the results have been stellar.

In his one previous outing against the Nationals, he took a no-decision despite seven strong innings, giving up two earned runs and four hits in a 5-3 loss on April 25.

Odalis Perez (5-9, 4.06) gets the call for Washington. He is 3-1 with a 3.44 ERA in five career starts against Chicago.








  • NL
    FINAL
    1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
    - - - - - - - - - - - -
    WASHINGTON 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 2 10 1
    CHICAGO CUBS 0 0 0 4 1 1 0 3 x 9 13 2 (FINAL)

    BATTERIES: WAS - ODALIS PEREZ, GARRETT MOCK (5TH), MARCO ESTRADA (7TH) AND
    JESUS FLORES
    CHN - RYAN DEMPSTER, CARLOS MARMOL (8TH), SEAN MARSHALL
    (9TH) AND GEOVANY SOTO

    HOME

    Aug 23 3:56 PM


  • NL
    AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
    SACRIFICE FLY BY EMILIO BONIFACIO SCORED ANDERSON
    HERNANDEZ.
    SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A BOONE ON SECOND, 2 OUT
    CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 2
    CHICAGO CUBS 9 TOP, 9TH
    DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: P ORR (.241, 0 HR, 6 RBI)

    Nationals 2, Cubs 9  Top 9, 0 OutsAug 23 3:56 PM


  • NL
    AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
    THREE-RUN HOME RUN BY ARAMIS RAMIREZ (22) TO RIGHT WITH 0
    OUT IN THE 8TH OFF MARCO ESTRADA SCORED RYAN THERIOT AND DARYLE
    WARD.
    CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 1, CHICAGO CUBS 9
    DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: R JOHNSON (.315, 2-FOR-4)

    Nationals 1, Cubs 9  Bot 8, 0 OutsAug 23 3:43 PM


  • NL
    AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
    SINGLE BY ANDERSON HERNANDEZ SCORED AUSTIN KEARNS.
    SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, A HERNANDEZ ON FIRST, 2 OUT
    CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 1
    CHICAGO CUBS 6 TOP, 7TH
    DUE UP FOR WASHINGTON: G MOCK (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI)

    Nationals 1, Cubs 6  Top 7, 0 OutsAug 23 3:04 PM


  • NL
    AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
    SOLO HOME RUN BY MARK DEROSA (17) TO CENTER WITH 2 OUT IN
    THE 6TH OFF GARRETT MOCK.
    CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 0, CHICAGO CUBS 6
    DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: G SOTO (.286, 1-FOR-3)

    Nationals 0, Cubs 6  Bot 6, 0 OutsAug 23 2:56 PM


  • NL
    AT CHICAGO CUBS - SCORING UPDATE
    SINGLE BY DERREK LEE SCORED ALFONSO SORIANO.
    SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, D LEE ON FIRST, R THERIOT ON SECOND, 1 OUT
    CURRENT SCORE: WASHINGTON 0
    CHICAGO CUBS 1 BOTTOM, 4TH
    DUE UP FOR CHICAGO CUBS: A RAMIREZ (.285, 1-FOR-2)

    Nationals 0, Cubs 1  Bot 4, 0 OutsAug 23 2:14 PM

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