In a very bland loss to the Cubs Monday night, the Nationals drop to 10-18 on the season and MacKenzie Gore takes the loss in a sleepy night for Washington’s offense.
Gore went 4+ innings, as the Cubs strung together three straight hits in the first inning to give them an early 2-0 lead.
Thomas walloped a 424-foot solo homer for his first of the season in the second inning though, and it was a one-run game for the next two innings. That was before Gore ran into some more trouble in the fifth, however, as after yielding a leadoff single to Nico Hoerner, Dansby Swanson jacked a two-run blast into the Nats’ bullpen. Gore then promptly walked Cody Bellinger, and from there he was pulled no outs into the fifth.
Mason Thompson finished out the fifth for Gore, and Thad Ward hurled a scoreless sixth and seventh before Cory Abbott, called up today after Chad Kuhl’s trip to the injured list, was tasked with the final two innings — he was able to work around a hit and a walk in the eighth but served up a solo homer in the ninth to Ian Happ.
The Nats had just six hits, three of which came from Dominic Smith as part of a 3-for-3 night and another pair of which came from Luis Garcia. Drew Smyly fired seven one-run innings for Chicago.
Washington looks ahead to the final three games of the series. Washington is still in need of a spot starter Wednesday after the doubleheader on Saturday — and it doesn’t look like it will be Abbott, who was called up today, but pitched two innings tonight.
Tuesday @ 7:05 p.m. ET: Trevor Williams @ Hayden Wesneski
Wednesday @ 7:05 p.m. ET: TBD vs. Marcus Stroman
Thursday @1:05 p.m. ET: Patrick Corbin vs. TBD
