Nationals Dominate Cubs 10-4 in Decisive Victory
The Washington Nationals routed the Chicago Cubs 10-4 at Wrigley Field on Opening Day. Rain, wind and a chilly 49-degree afternoon made conditions uncomfortable for fans.
Game summary
Washington built a decisive lead with a six-run fourth inning. That spurt put the Nationals firmly in control.
The box score read: Nationals Dominate Cubs 10-4 in Decisive Victory, after Washington posted 195 pitches and a relentless attack.
Pitching and key moments
Matthew Boyd started for the Cubs. He struck out seven and worked into the fourth inning.
Joey Wiemer opened scoring with a second-inning solo homer. Boyd then surrendered a flurry of hits and a walk in the fourth.
Ben Brown entered in long relief and gave up a home run during the fourth. Hoby Milner threw a scoreless eighth.
Jacob Webb allowed a two-run homer in the ninth. Both runs were unearned after an error charged to Alex Bregman.
Offense and highlights
Chicago took a 2-1 lead in the third inning. Dansby Swanson walked and advanced on a pickoff miscue before Michael Busch tied the game with a bloop single.
Pete Crow-Armstrong followed with a single that put the Cubs ahead. Busch finished with three hits and two doubles.
Busch became the 85th Cub since 1901 to record at least three hits on Opening Day. He also drew a walk.
Chicago added a run in the fourth on a throwing error and a Swanson infield grounder. The final Cub run arrived in the seventh on a bunt single by Crow-Armstrong.
Alex Bregman recorded a seventh-inning single. That hit marked the 500th time a player has recorded a hit in his first game as a Cub.
Fielding, reviews and conditions
Three automated ball-strike (ABS) challenges came during the game. Washington initiated all three; two calls were confirmed and one was overturned.
Weather affected attendance and sightlines. Rain and a 22-mph sustained wind emptied many upper-deck seats by the fourth inning.
Official attendance was 39,712. The game lasted two hours, 59 minutes. Nationals pitchers threw 195 total pitches versus 138 by the Cubs.
Historical context and notes
Filmogaz.com’s Opening Day facts noted this was the ninth time the Cubs surrendered double-digit runs since 1901. Prior ten-run losses came in 1912, 1914, 1965, and 1979.
The club also gave up 11 runs in 1962 and 1998, 12 in 1994, and 16 in 2010.
Individual takes and roster notes
Matt Shaw started in right field and went 0-for-3. He made one standout play but otherwise looked tentative in the outfield.
Ben Brown showed promise in long relief despite allowing a homer. Milner and Webb closed out the late innings.
What’s next
The Cubs have Friday off. They return Saturday at Wrigley Field for game two of the series.
Cade Horton will start for Chicago. Miles Mikolas is slated to start for Washington. First pitch is 1:20 p.m. CT on Marquee Sports Network.
