Cubs vs. Nationals Game Highlights (8/31/24) | MLB Highlights

the Nationals pitcher a former Cubs far fham by the name of DJ HS what do you know about him yeah talented left-hander Pat he was the Cubs minor league pitcher of the year in 2021 made his debut earlier this summer he's made 14 starts disregard that one loss record he's pitched really well he's got one of the highest strikeout rates in the National League DJ hers draws the assignment this afternoon the former Cubs draft pick e round pick by the Cubs in 2019 and then a trade deadline deal in 2023 a little over year ago to the Nationals and he makes his 15th start of the year with a two and six record and a 3.84 earned run average game number 136 on the year for both of these teams and some high heat from DJ HST 84th strikeout pitching in his 66th inning the endb Swanson last night against the righty Irving hitting seventh the Lefty today he's up in the two spot up there hacking and Luis Garcia taking some steps to his left to grab that one three balls two strikes the pitch on the way swung on ground ball to the left side right at Abrams who gobbles it up he plants and fires on to Joey Gallow on the side retired a good start a one two three inning for DJ hers and for the Cubs it's 27-year-old rhander from Tijana Mexico Javier Assad makes his 25th start fully established now as a big league starter six and four record and a 3.15 erra for the Cubs first and eight for the first time in their history and this includes the pitcher the Washington Nationals have seven rookies starting this game this guy was the number two pick in the draft back in 2023 he pops it up this ball is going to be playable for Bush good sinking fast ball right in on the hands and that's out number one what an open stance from the left side the pitch is swung on and missed strike three got him with a fast ball pitch is line to left haps there makes the catch roaming to his left for out number three and the Nationals go down in order here in the first we head to the second scoreless well into long inning the bouncing ball then the walk here comes number eight to Michael Bush and do we have a b last Diaz stepping out from behind the catcher and pointing at DJ hers not much argument there from DJ slow roller and the second out over at first BCE with pares over to third it brings up their number seven hitter niik hoer here's the pitch over the ins side corner with a fast ball strike three called up to 96 mph the heater he gets Corner looking to end the inning second strike out for DJ herd bottom of the second inning and no score here in Nationals Park and now the batter Jose Tana H in three straight four for his last 11 and that's trying to find its way up the middle thought maybe Swanson would give it a try face it all the way well maybe this day will jump start CJ Abrams still leads an Nats and homers and a bouncer right side and with his momentum taking him toward first Herer takes that Shore out Tana to Second and Joey Gallow next Tana good break off first gets to second with two out and Joey Gallow will be the batter and a clean base hit to Right Here Comes Tana flying around third they'll just hit the cut off man well he lets it go through which is surprising but the NS take the lead and Joey Gallow delivers a two out RBI knock we go to the third inning it's the Nationals one of the Cubs nothing great fast ball away that strike out number three one in each inning so far first time around the order Cubs over for eight with a walk down and in that was nasty so he's found his change up that breaking ball was a killer pitchers nearly even Steven here except for the Nets having three hits and the lead 46 pitches 28 strikes Assad 4627 for DJ her and he gets a high leverage inning here Swanson Suzuki and Bellinger wow it's good old country heart ball and that strike out number five already here's Suzuki bounced out to Abrams first time and Swinging early in the count Jacob young this ball going further than he thought it would and it's going to take him to about the 390 Mark out there two outs a nice job by Jacob and Bellinger high in the the a to right Dylan Cruz measuring it and he's got it a 334 and 34s beat away one two three for DJ hers again Joey Gallows two out RBI hit in the second is still standing up the Nationals ahead one to nothing over the Cubs here we go bottom four Andre chaparo popped up Third Base first time deep fly left field this time see you later Andres chaparo with his second as an n and it's a two nothing game chaparo has that violent swing controlled violence if you will and it results in a home run a run in the second a run in the fourth for the Nationals two to nothing they lead the Cubs as we go to the fifth isak par set to lead it off for the Cubs the two- two pulled Fair ball down the left field line this will bounce off the side wall quickly retrieved by wood so parus stops at first base but the Cubs have their first hit of the ball game a single to left by paradus here in the fifth Bush hit the plate with a full count the payoff pitch is low and outside it's ball four so now the Cubs mounting something here in the top half of the fifth inning now finally Cubs get a little something going here in the fifth inning they were hitless going into this inning and he'll bring out Jim Hickey paradus with a single he's now at second bush with a walk he's at first and niik Herer do up Herer drives one toward right center field that's going to be a base hit this is going to load the bags with nobody out young the center fielder angling over I thought he might make a dive he did not and they're loaded with nobody out Cubs got a chance to get back in this game they're down two nothing here in the FI Pro Armstrong hits one in the air to left Center it'll drive in a run wood is going to make the catch tagging and scoring is paradus the other runners hold Cubs are on the board it's two to one a sack fly for Pete Crow Armstrong Cubs are down by one still only one away in the inning now Christian bethan Court will stand in bethan court lines the base set to Center rounding third is pushed the ball gets through young Corner rounding third and holding and down to Second goes be bethan the ball game is tied at two Christian bethan cour another clutch base hit for the Chicago Cubs Ian hap with a chance to give the Cubs their first lead of the day one away and the infield back and Runners at second and third off the body of the pitcher a room will score the throw to first and time and the Cubs have the lead good base running we mentioned Nico is very alert he saw that ball off the body of the pitcher and took off for home and the Cubs lead three to2 and now Davey Martinez is going to make a pitching change for Washington a runner at third with two down in the inning Swanson lines one down the left field line curling that's going to be a fair ball bouncing up against the wall a run will score it's a double for Dansby Cubs lead 4 to2 and so the Cubs added their lead with a fourth run home in the inning it's now Chicago four and Washington two Lou has hit a bullet to left Center caught by Ian hap of the first inning and then last time up grounded into a 463 double play trying to deliver Young Who double to start the in he's at third with two out and the pitch inside skips to the right of the plate from Beth and cour and racing home is Jacob young to score on a wild pitch it's now the Cubs four the Nationals three stolen base number 27 for Herer Taps this one fair and now Herer hung up between second and third and the CBS get a break corer around third heading home the throw by Young to the plate Nico slides he scores what a crazy play lead 53 the catcher Millis ran and made a bad running throw that bounced on by Abrams and out into the left Center alertly hoers scores on a very unusual play and the Cubs lead five to three 53 Cubs Two on Two out here in the top of the eighth for the Cubs is bus weights ball got a lot of plate and it's a one hopper to Cru here comes the throw it is in time first major league assist well we saw the other night Dylan Cruz got an absolute Cannon Dylan Cruz guns down his first runner of the major leagues Drew Millis with a tag to put the finishing touches on it and Suzuki out at the plate after the base hit score it 9-2 a two Hopper it was perfect and the tying runs are on base Here We Go Again Nationals last night in the bottom of the ninth inning we down 7 to three scored three times after Jacob Young's two-run single were down to run and Dylan Cruz then had to face a new pitcher coming into the game at that point Kean Thompson who struck him out with a breaking ball well here he is again Runners first and second one out the nashs down five to three awkward swing and Miss strike three and a slider off the outside Cruz retired two away two on two out for the Nationals here in the bottom of the ninth inning Cubs up five to three James Wood at the plate called strike three back door slider Nails wood and the Cubs win again they beat the Nationals 5 to3 and win their fifth consecutive series