Addison Russell hit a game-ending RBI double in the ninth inning, and the Chicago Cubs beat the surging Washington Nationals 3-2 on Tuesday night.
Chris Coghlan started the winning rally with a one-out single against Matt Grace (2-1). The Cubs then caught a huge break when shortstop Ian Desmond threw wide to first while trying to turn a potential double play on pinch-hitter Jonathan Herrera's grounder to second.
That extended the inning, and Russell lined a 1-0 pitch beyond center fielder Denard Span's reach for the rookie's third hit of the game.
That made a winner of Hector Rondon (3-0), who worked a scoreless ninth. And it gave the Nationals their second loss in 10 games.
Chicago's Kyle Hendricks and Washington's Jordan Zimmermann each turned in dominant starts, allowing one run over seven innings.
Dexter Fowler put the Cubs in front with a leadoff homer in the first. It stayed that way until Harper led off the seventh with his National League-leading 17th homer, driving the ball to about the third row in left field.
Two more homers set the stage for Russell's hit in the ninth. Denard Span connected against Chicago reliever Pedro Strop with two out in the eighth, belting a drive to right for his second homer in as many games. But rookie Kris Bryant went deep in the bottom half.
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Bryant's drive on a 3-2 pitch from Aaron Barrett went off the new videoboard in left. It was his seventh of the season and came after he flied out twice to the warning track in center.
The long balls overshadowed strong starts by Hendricks and Zimmermann.
Hendricks, coming off his first career shutout last week at San Diego, gave up four hits. He struck out four and walked two.
Zimmermann allowed six hits, struck out five and walked three, but the NL East-leading Nationals lost for just the sixth time in 26 games.
Washington had a chance to take the lead in the ninth after Yunel Escobar led off with a single against Rondon and stole second. But with two out and Wilson Ramos batting, Rondon caught him taking off for third and threw to Bryant to end the inning.
