Observations: Cubs play small ball before Bote's big swing originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
The Cubs beat the Nationals 6-3 on Tuesday, improving to 21-20 on the season.
Here’s 10 observations from the game.
1. Willson Contreras is absolutely on fire right now. After an 0-for-11 start to the month, he’s 13-for-31 his last eight games, including Tuesday’s 2-for-4 performance.
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2. On a rainy night at Wrigley Field, both of Contreras' hits were singles, as were 11 of the Cubs' 13 total knocks. The weather wasn't great, but the bats found a way to score. Two Zach Davies sac bunts setting up run-scoring innings.
3. There's something about David Bote home runs vs. the Nationals. It wasn't a walk-off grand slam, but Bote's two-run blast in the sixth put the Cubs ahead for good. Before the homer, all eight Cubs hits were singles.
Ian Happ added insurance with a solo homer in the eighth.
4. David Ross and a trainer came out to check on Anthony Rizzo in the fourth inning. Although Rizzo stayed in the game, he then made an error on a Kyle Schwarber ground ball right and exited after the half inning ended.
The Cubs said Rizzo exited as a precaution with low back tightness.
5. Where would the Cubs be without Kris Bryant? The 29-year-old had another good game at the plate (2-for-3), and his defensive versatility came up big again. Bryant moved to first after Rizzo exited, after starting the game right field — his 22nd straight start away from third base.
6. It’s only fitting Starlin Castro did something big during this week of reunions and nostalgia at Wrigley Field. The former Cub smacked a game-tying solo home run off Davies in the sixth inning, just his second of the season.
7. Opponents have teed off on Davies their third time through the lineup this season, with a .478/.571/.696 slash line entering Tuesday. Washington continued that trend, scoring three runs off the Cubs starter their third time up.
Before Castro’s home run, Trea Turner, Juan Soto and Ryan Zimmerman hit consecutive singles with 100+ mph exit velocity to drive in two runs.
8. Davies’ outing ended on a sour note, but Tuesday marks his third straight start going 5+ innings and allowing three or less runs. He had one such outing in his first six starts.
9. The Cubs’ young arms keep on delivering. Keegan Thompson replaced Davies with the go-ahead run on first and no outs in the sixth. He got out of it, striking out three in 1 1/3 total innings.
Justin Steele replaced Thompson in a two-on, one-out jam, ending the seventh with a strikeout and 1-3 groundout.
10. The Cubs have a chance to get two games above .500 on Wednesday, currently their best mark of the season. They’re back above .500 for the first time since May 8 (17-16).
On deck: The Nationals and Cubs meet Wednesday in a matchup of Cy Young Award winners. Max Scherzer (3-2, 2.10 ERA) squares off with Jake Arrieta (4-3, 4.10 ERA). First pitch is 6:40 p.m.
