Keibert Ruiz, Nationals beat the Cubs 7-5
July 17, 2023; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Washington Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz (20) celebrates in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run against the Chicago Cubs during the seventh inning at Wrigley Field. Image: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
Keibert Ruiz hit a two-run homer and he and Stone Garrett each had three hits as the visiting Washington Nationals beat the Chicago Cubs 7-5 on Monday night.
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Jeimer Candelario also hit two homers for one of his two hits and Luis Garcia added two RBIs as the Nationals outscored Chicago for the fourth straight time this season.
MacKenzie Gore (5-7) allowed five runs, six hits and two walks while striking out six over 6 1/3 innings as Washington improved to 23-24 on roads despite sitting last in the National League East.
Two of Gore’s allowed hits were two-run homers by Ian Happ and Patrick Wisdom, but Chicago is down to 1-3 since the All-Star break and lost for the ninth time in its last 11 home games.
Cubs starter Drew Smyly (7-7) makes five runs and eight hits while fanning seven and walking one of six innings
Washington capitalized on some first-inning ineffectiveness from Smyly. The left-hander hit frontman CJ Abrams with a pitch, and two hitters later, former Cub Candelario scored into the left field bleacher basket. Homer was Candelario’s 14th goal of the season.
Chicago started running in the second set. Cody Bellinger (two hits) grabbed a hit in center field, moved up to second by walking Yan Gomes and scored on a hit by Christopher Morel.
Smyly sat out before Ruiz opened the fourth on foot, moving up to third on Garrett’s first double of the night and scoring at groundout Dominic Smith. Garcia followed with an RBI single drive from second baseman Morel’s glove for the Nationals’ 4-1 lead
Washington added runs in the sixth when center Bellinger missed a fly ball to batter Garrett, earning another double. Garrett ended up scoring on a Garcia fly ball that Bellinger caught.
Gore snapped 10 Cubs in a row until Seiya Suzuki led from sixth base by one. Happ followed that with his first right-handed homer of the season, his eighth overall
In the seventh, Ruiz pushed Daniel Palencia’s pitch to the right field bench with a man for his 11th homer.
Wisdom caught up to Gore when he went deep with the runners in seventh base, cutting the deficit to 7-5. It was his 16th homer of the year.
Washington’s Kyle Finnegan went 1 1/3 scoreless innings for his 12th save.
–Field Level Media
