In an electric atmosphere at Wrigley Field, the Chicago Cubs pulled off a thrilling 7-6 victory over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night, overcoming multiple deficits to keep their postseason aspirations intact. The tightly contested game featured dramatic home runs, late-inning rallies, and a decisive eighth-inning hit that sent the Cubs faithful home buzzing with optimism.
The Nationals struck first, jumping out to an early 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Catcher Keibert Ruiz provided the spark for Washington with a towering three-run homer off Cubs starter Jameson Taillon. Despite the early blow, Taillon settled down and the Cubs offense wasted no time answering back.
In the bottom of the third inning, Chicago began chipping away at the Nationals’ lead. Cody Bellinger, who has been pivotal to the Cubs’ resurgence this season, launched a two-run home run into the right-field bleachers, cutting the deficit to 3-2. The Cubs weren’t done, as Dansby Swanson followed up with a solo shot of his own, tying the game at 3-3 and sending the Wrigley crowd into a frenzy.
The Nationals, however, regained control in the fifth inning. Joey Meneses knocked in an RBI single to give Washington a 4-3 edge, and Lane Thomas followed with a sacrifice fly to extend the lead to 5-3. But once again, the Cubs answered back, this time with a three-run outburst in the bottom of the inning. Nico Hoerner delivered the big hit, a two-run double down the left-field line that gave Chicago a 6-5 lead. The Cubs tacked on another run courtesy of an RBI groundout from Ian Happ.
Washington refused to fold, tying the game once again in the top of the seventh inning. Meneses came through in the clutch, slapping another RBI single to even the score at 6-6. With the game teetering on the edge, both teams’ bullpens locked in, and it became clear that the next run might decide the outcome.
In the bottom of the eighth, with tension mounting, the Cubs broke through. Christopher Morel, known for his flair for the dramatic, lined a sharp single to left field that scored Hoerner from second base, giving Chicago a 7-6 lead and sending Wrigley Field into a frenzy.
The Cubs then turned to their bullpen to close things out. Adbert Alzolay, the team’s emerging closer, was tasked with sealing the victory in the ninth inning. Despite allowing a leadoff single, Alzolay kept his composure and induced a groundball double play to erase the threat. A final fly ball out to center field secured the hard-fought 7-6 win for the Cubs.
With this victory, the Cubs remain in the thick of the National League wild-card race, continuing their late-season push toward the postseason. The win brought them one step closer to securing a playoff spot as they battle it out with several other teams in a tightly packed wild-card chase.
For Washington, it was another tough loss in a season of rebuilding, but they have played spoiler in recent weeks and continue to challenge playoff contenders with their young and developing talent.
The Cubs’ victory not only showcased their resilience but also highlighted the importance of contributions from up and down their lineup. Cody Bellinger, Dansby Swanson, and Nico Hoerner each had pivotal moments, while Christopher Morel delivered when the team needed him most. Manager David Ross praised his team’s grit after the game, noting their determination to fight through adversity and keep their playoff dreams alive.
As the Cubs gear up for the final stretch of the regular season, every win counts, and they will look to build on this momentum as they eye a return to the postseason for the first time since 2020. With key performances from their veterans and a bullpen that has tightened up in critical moments, Chicago remains a dangerous team capable of making noise in October.
