{{pageModel.leagueAbbr}} {{pageModel.subtitle}} | Las Vegas Review-Journal
Major League Baseball
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Washington 9, Chi. Cubs 2
When: 7:05 PM ET, Thursday, September 6, 2012
Where: Nationals Park, Washington, District of Columbia
Temperature: 79°
Umpires: Home - Jerry Layne, 1B - Bill Miller, 2B - Mike Estabrook, 3B - Larry Vanover
Attendance: 22447


Nationals 9, Cubs 2: Adam LaRoche and Kurt Suzuki homered as host Washington continued its power surge and completed a four-game sweep against Chicago in a contest that had two bench-clearing incidents.

Suzuki and Ryan Zimmerman drove in three runs apiece while Jordan Zimmermann tossed seven solid innings for the National League East-leading Nationals, who have outscored their opponents 53-23 while going 7-1 on their 11-game homestand. Washington crossed the plate 31 times during the sweep while allowing only nine runs.

Zimmermann (10-8) allowed two runs and five hits while adding to his career-high wins total. The right-hander, who won for the first time in five starts, walked one and struck out nine en route to his first victory in four career decisions against the Cubs.

With Chicago leading 2-1, Suzuki belted a three-run homer off Justin Germano (2-6) in the second inning to put Washington ahead for good. The blast gave Suzuki 13 RBIs in 22 games since being acquired from Oakland.

LaRoche's two-run shot in the sixth, which created a 9-2 advantage, was Washington's 14th homer in its last three games. The first baseman has gone deep in each of his last four games and six times in as many contests.

After plating the Nationals' first run with a groundout in the first, Zimmerman delivered a two-run single in the fourth for a 7-2 cushion. Zimmerman extended his hitting streak to 11 games.

One inning after a less-heated incident, Cubs catcher Steve Clevenger was one of three players ejected in the sixth for his involvement in another bench-clearing confrontation. Clevenger pushed one Nationals player while reaching at another.

Germano lasted four innings, surrendering seven runs - six earned - and seven hits as he suffered his fourth consecutive loss.

Anthony Rizzo went 3-for-4 with a solo homer for the Cubs, who have lost six straight overall and eight in a row on the road.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Chicago SS Starlin Castro had two hits, leaving him two shy of 500 for his career. ... Along with Clevenger, Cubs RHP Manuel Corpas and Nationals LHP Michael Gonzalez were ejected. Chicago bench coach Jamie Quirk was tossed following the fifth-inning incident. ... Washington LHP Sean Burnett will attempt to play catch Saturday. Burnett has not pitched since Sunday due to elbow soreness. ... Chicago has lost 30 of its last 36 overall games and 17 of 18 on the road.

Top Game Performances
Starting Pitchers
Chi. Cubs   Washington
Justin Germano Player Jordan Zimmermann
Loss W/L Win
4.0 IP 7.0
2 Strikeouts 9
7 Hits 5
13.50 ERA 2.57
Hitting
Chi. Cubs   Washington
Anthony Rizzo Player Kurt Suzuki
3 Hits 3
1 RBI 3
1 HR 1
6 TB 6
.750 Avg .600
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Hits HR TB Avg LOB K RBI BB SB Errors
Chi. Cubs 7 1 16 .212 10 11 2 1 0 2
Washington 12 2 21 .343 23 6 8 7 2 0