LIVE BLOG: Cubs beat Nats 2-1 to take Game 3

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Ben Zobrist will start at second base and bat in the fifth spot against Nationals ace Max Scherzer. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Wade Davis needed three outs to secure the Cubs 2-1 victory over the Nationals, and it didn’t take him long to accomplish that.

With back-to-back ground outs,  Jayson Werth (1-3 on Monday) flew out to Anthony Rizzo to end the game.

For the second time in this series, the Cubs have been able to turn a no-hitter through 5 innings into a win.

The Cubs hold a 2-1 lead in the best-of-five series and will host the Nationals for Game 4 on Tuesday.

Jake Arrieta will take the mound for the North Siders, which could be his final start in a Cubs uniform.


Brandon Kintzler striked out Kris Bryant after Jon Jay’s sacrifice bunt sent Leonys Martin to second.

The Nationals pulled Kintzler and replaced him with Oliver Perez.

With one on and two outs, Anthony Rizzo, who was 4-4 this series with runners in scoring position, was at the plate.

In his last five at-bats against Perez, Rizzo had two home runs.

With the stats in his favor, Rizzo did what we all expected of him. He hit a floater to centerfield, which fell untouched between three Nationals players. The play sent Martin — the game-winning run — home.

Rizzo got thrown out at second, but no one seemed to care as the Cubs hold a 2-1 lead.


Carl Edwards Jr. did what he does best.

The Cubs reliever goes 1-2-3 in the top of the 8th with two ground outs and a strikeout.

Ben Zobrist was also able to redeem himself from his error in the third inning. He made an impressive catch to get Trea Turner out at first.


With one on and one out, Jason Heyward stepped up confidently to the plate.

Heyward singled to left field, sending Albert Almora Jr. to second and Sammy Solis to the dugout.

Brandon Kintzler replaced Solis, who allowed two hits in the inning.

Addison Russell aimed toward the gap between right and centerfield, but Michael Taylor was able to make the catch.

The Cubs tied the game, 1-1.

Carls Edward Jr. will take replace Pedro Strop on the mound and Trea Turner (0-3, strikeout on Monday) will lead off for the Nationals.


If Joe Maddon made any good decision during Game 3 of the NLDS, it was putting Albert Almora Jr. in for Kyle Schwarber. Almora Jr. recorded his first career postseason hit with a RBI single, sending Ben Zobrist home.

Chicago Cubs’ Albert Almora Jr. hits an RBI single off Washington Nationals’ Sammy Solis during the seventh inning of Game 3 of the National League Division Series baseball game Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, in Chicago. | David Banks/Associated Press

Chicago Cubs’ Albert Almora Jr. hits an RBI single off Washington Nationals’ Sammy Solis during the seventh inning of Game 3 of the National League Division Series baseball game Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, in Chicago. | David Banks/Associated Press

The game is tied 1-1 with one on and one out.


Max Scherzer gave off his first hit of Game 3 and to who else then Ben Zobrist.

Zobrist, who always seems to get big postseason hits, has a history of success against Scherzer. Three of his four career homers against the Nationals were off of the two-time Cy Young winner. He’s also recorded 6 RBI off him.

This time, Zobrist doubled to centerfield.

Ben Zobrist celebrates after hitting a double in the seventh inning against the Washington Nationals during game three of the National League Division Series at Wrigley Field on October 9, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. | Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Ben Zobrist celebrates after hitting a double in the seventh inning against the Washington Nationals during game three of the National League Division Series at Wrigley Field on October 9, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. | Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Joe Maddon put Albert Almora Jr. as the Cubs next hitter. He’ll replace Kyle Schwarber could’ve used a good at-bat to redeem himself after his two-error play off a fly ball in the fifth inning.

After allowing one hit in 6 1/3 inning, the Nationals call Sammy Solis out of the bullpen.

Scherzer’s final numbers: three walks, seven strikeouts and 98 pitches.


Addison Russell looked like Super Man for a brief second as he made a diving catch before throwing Michael Taylor out at first base.

Pedro Strop ends the top of the seventh inning after Max Scherzer grounded out.

Bill Murray and his brother, Joel, led an enthusiastic seventh inning stretch.

“We need one run to tie it and two to win it,” Bill Murray said. “Let’s go Cubs fans!”

Willson Contreras will lead off for the Cubs.


The Cubs can’t seem to get anything going against the Nationals’ two-time Cy Young winner.

Max Scherzer remains hitless through six innings. He’s allowed three walks, but has struck out six in return.

Anthony Rizzo grounded out into a double play to end the sixth inning.

Max Scherzer remains hitless through six innings. | Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Max Scherzer remains hitless through six innings. | Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images


Jose Quintana seems unfazed by his first postseason start.

The lefty opened up the sixth inning with a big strike out against Bryce Harper. Quintana now has  seven strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.

But it was Kyle Schwarber who did Quintana wrong.

Daniel Murphy hit a line drive to left field, but Schwarber couldn’t make the easy catch to end the inning. Instead, the ball tips his glove and falls to the ground.

And just when you think Schwarber couldn’t do anything worse, he kicked the ball away from him when he was trying to pick it up with his glove.

Murphy was able to get all the way to third base on the two-error play.

Pedro Strop replaced Quintana, who ended his postseason debut with two hits, one walk and seven strikeouts through 5 2/3 innings.

With Strop on the mound, Ryan Zimmerman hits two-out double that sends Murphy home.

Jason Heyward was able to make the catch to prevent the Cubs from doing anymore damage.

Nationals lead 1-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth.


Both teams not being able to capitalize on opportunities seems to be a theme for Monday’s game.

For the second consecutive inning, the Cubs leadoff hitter reaches.

Max Scherzer walked Kyle Schwarber to begin the inning.

But a Jason Heyward fly out and back-to-back strikeouts, leaving Schwarber standing alone on first base at the end of the fifth inning.


Thank God for that protective netting.

Addison Russell loses his bat on a 0-2 count and it flew into the protective hitting along the third baseline.

Earlier Monday, a man filed a lawsuit against the MLB and the Cubs after he was blinded in his left by a foul liner at Wrigley Field on Aug. 29.


1-2-3, out.

Although Jose Quintana seemed to have struggled in the last few innings, he made the top of the fifth inning seem effortless.

Quintana struck out three consecutive batters to end the top of the fifth. That was his sixth strikeout of the day.

Jose Quintana struck out three-straight batters to end the top of the fifth. | Stacy Revere/Getty Images

Jose Quintana struck out three-straight batters to end the top of the fifth. | Stacy Revere/Getty Images


Trea Turner’s bad day continues.

Although the short stop made an impressive barehanded grab to force Jon Jay out at second, he overthrew Zimmerman at first, allowing Anthony Rizzo to advance to second.

Willson Contreras drew the walk from Max Scherzer and the Cubs had two on and two out. But Ben Zobrist grounded out to end the inning.


Jon Jay flexed his speed to finish the top of the fourth inning. The centerfielder made a running catch into the warning track, stranding one runner at first.

Jose Quintana was kicking himself after Jayson Werth drew the first walk of the game.

Through four innings, Quintana has allowed two hits and one walk, while striking out three batters.


Tweaked hamstring? What tweaked hamstring?

Max Scherzer remains perfect on the mound through three innings, fanning four batters.


Cubs were able to escape a two-error inning after Jason Heyward made the inning-ending catch in the gap between right and centerfield.

The inning began Jose Quintana giving Michael Taylor a hit, and the Cubs defense sort of unraveled from there.

Leading off of first base, Quintana attempted to pick off Taylor, but Anthony Rizzo was already in position for a Max Scherzer bunt. Quintana’s through went over Rizzo’s reaching glove as Taylor advanced to second.  Taylor advanced to second off the Quintana error.

Quintana redeemed himself by striking Max Scherzer out.

It’s not Trea Turner’s series. He’s 0-10 with four strikeouts after he hit a pop fly to Rizzo in foul territory.

With two outs, Ben Zobrist mishandled a grounder by Bryce Harper, which kept Taylor on second.

With two on and two out, Anthony Rendon flew out to Heyward.


Kyle Schwarber got Cubs fans excited. He hit a monster that looked like it was heading to Sheffield Ave.

After two more pitchers, Schwarber ripped his helmet off thinking he drew the walk, but home plate umpire Fieldin Culbreth called Scherzer’s pitch a strike. Schwarber started arguing with Culbreth before returning to the dugout.

Kyle Schwarber talks with umpire Fieldin Culbreth after being called out on strikes in the second inning against the Washington Nationals during game three of the National League Division Series at Wrigley Field. | Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Kyle Schwarber talks with umpire Fieldin Culbreth after being called out on strikes in the second inning against the Washington Nationals during game three of the National League Division Series at Wrigley Field. | Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Cubs and Nationals are still scoreless through two innings.


Through two innings, Jose Quintana is looking confident in his postseason debut at Wrigley Field.

Three of the first five Nationals players have hit back toward the mound, while the other two grounded out to Ben Zobrist at second.

Jayson Werth recorded the first hit of the game with a line drive to centerfield, but Quintana followed up the hit by striking out Matt Wieters.

Max Scherzer’s “tweaked” hamstring injury doesn’t seem to be fazing the two-time Cy Young winner at all.

In the first inning, Scherzer got Bryant swinging on his third out, and no Cubs were able to reach first.

RELATED STORY: Nostalgia gripping Arrieta before what could be final start for the Cubs


The Cubs return home tied 1-1 with the Nationals after a 6-3 defeat Saturday in Game 2 of this best-of-five series.

What, Mark Grace and Billy Williams weren’t available? The Cubs are heavy with lefties for Game 3 of the NLDS (3:08 CST, TBS, 670-AM) against Nationals ace Max Scherzer, who makes a dang good living pummeling righties with his devastating slider.

With Jon Jay, Anthony Rizzo, Ben Zobrist, Kyle Schwarber and Jason Heyward in the  will take their cuts from the left side against Scherzer.

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Here’s how Joe Maddon wrote out his Game 3 lineup:

Jon Jay, CF

Kris Bryant, 3B

Anthony Rizzo, 1B

Willson Contreras, C

Ben Zobrist, 2B

Schwarber, LF

Jason Heyward, RF

Addison Russell, SS

Jose Quintana, P

GAME 2: Harper, Zimmerman long balls turn series around for Nats

The lefty-dominant order is a testament to Scherzer’s dominance over right-handed batters.

“I don’t know what to expect from Scherzer. I have no clue. He could be typical. He could be a little bit less than. Who knows?” Maddon said. “But regardless, he’s really tough on righties normally.”

Joe Maddon and Theo Epstein talk while watching Cubs batting practice on Monday. | Daryl Van Schouwen/Sun-Times

Joe Maddon and Theo Epstein talk while watching Cubs batting practice on Monday. | Daryl Van Schouwen/Sun-Times

As you’ve probably noticed, this means no Javy Baez — one of the brightest stars of last year’s postseason.  Maddon said he selected Zobrist to get the start at second base over Baez because he’s a lefty.

Zobrist also has a history of success against Scherzer. Three of his four career homers against the Nationals were off of the two-time Cy Young winner. He’s also recorded 6 RBI off him.

Baez, on the other hand, is 0-5 against Scherzer and has been struck out three times by the ace.

It’s also worth noting the interest that switch-hitting Ian Happ, who has done far more damage from the left side this season, started Game 2 against lefty Gio Gonzalez but is riding the pine against Scherzer.

Kris Bryant hits a pitch during Monday’s batting practice before Game 3 of the NLDS against the Nationals. | Daryl Van Schouwen/Sun-Times

Kris Bryant hits a pitch during Monday’s batting practice before Game 3 of the NLDS against the Nationals. | Daryl Van Schouwen/Sun-Times

The Nationals also announced their Game 3 lineup. Dusty Baker has it set as the following:

Trea Turner, SS

Bryce Harper, RF

Anthony Rendon, 3B

Daniel Murphy, 2B

Ryan Zimmerman, 1B

Jayson Werth, LF

Matt Wieters, C

Michael Taylor, CF

Max Scherzer, P

Follow me on Twitter: @madkenney

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