WASHINGTON (AP) — Nelson Cruz hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the eighth inning to lift the Washington Nationals to a 5-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Monday night.
Cruz, who hit a two-run double in the fifth, smacked a 1-1 pitch from Brandon Hughes (1-1) to center to snap a 4-all tie with one out in the eighth. It was Cruz’s ninth homer of the season and first since June 25.
“He’s been working really hard on getting the ball in the air,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “He’s hitting the ball but it hasn’t really been in the air, and to get that ball in the air and hit it the way he did was awesome.”
Cruz is 9 for 25 (.360) over his past eight games.
“It’s about adjustments. You’ve got to adjust on the fly. Even (between) at-bats,” he said. “I’ve been more consistent hitting the ball and swinging at strikes. That’s the key.”
Carl Edwards Jr. (4-3) pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Kyle Finnegan worked the ninth for his fifth save.
Ian Happ hit two solo homers for the Cubs, including a drive into the second deck in right center, giving him three in his past three games.
Washington recalled shortstop prospect CJ Abrams from Triple-A Rochester on Monday and he went 0 for 4 with a throwing error in his Nationals debut. Abrams, 21, was one of five prospects obtained from the San Diego Padres in the Juan Soto-Josh Bell trade on Aug. 2.
Starter Josiah Gray allowed three runs on five hits for Washington. He walked two and struck out 10.
Lane Thomas and Yadiel Hernandez had two hits apiece for the Nationals, who had lost nine of 11.
Cubs starter Marcus Stroman allowed four unearned runs on six hits in 4 2/3 innings.
Trailing 3-0, the Nationals rallied during a four-run fifth inning started when Lane Thomas…