Justin Ruggiano's two-out, two-run double broke a tie in the seventh inning, leading the Chicago Cubs to a 5-3 victory over the Washington Nationals on Thursday night.
Starlin Castro had two RBIs and Anthony Rizzo went 3 for 4 with two doubles and a run scored.
The Cubs had dropped four of five games before the win.
Denard Span went 2 for 4 with two doubles and two RBIs for the Nationals.
Neither starter was involved in the decision. The Cubs' Travis Wood gave up three runs on seven hits in 6 2/3 innings and was hurt most by five walks. Washington's Doug Fister also allowed three runs on seven hits.
Cubs reliever Neil Ramirez (1-1) got the win and Hector Rondon pitched a perfect ninth for his ninth save.
Cubs center fielder Junior Lake had to leave in the second inning after crashing into a door in the outside wall at Wrigley Field chasing a drive by Ryan Zimmerman. The wall is not covered with ivy. The Cubs said Lake has shown no signs of a concussion and has some bruises, including one on his head.
The Cubs opened the scoring with three runs in the fourth by bunching hits. Ruggiano's lead-off grounder surprisingly was scored a hit when third baseman Anthony Rendon threw well wide of first.
Rizzo followed with a double. Castro, who took over the team lead in RBIs on Wednesday, added to his total with a two-run single. One out later, Welington Castillo singled to drive in Castro.
Washington finally pushed across a run in the sixth. Span led off with a double and Rendon immediately drove him in with a single.
It appeared the lead was about to shrink further after Wood walked Jayson Werth. But Wood got Adam LaRoche to ground into a double play. Following another walk, he struck out Ian Desmond to end the inning.
Wood wouldn't be so fortunate in the seventh. He started the inning with back-to-back walks and, following a sacrifice bunt, two runs scored on a double by Span to tie the score at 3.
The Cubs staged their rally in the bottom of the inning and took the 5-3 lead on Ruggiano's double off reliever Craig Stammen (0-3).
Cubs Top Nationals 5-3
Copyright The Associated Press