Chicago Cubs vs Washington Nationals Box Score on Jun 27, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Jun 27, 2017

WASHINGTON -- Trea Turner had two hits, two runs and four of his team's seven steals and Max Scherzer allowed just one run while collecting two hits and an RBI at the plate as the Washington Nationals ran past the Chicago Cubs 6-1 on Tuesday.

Turner now has a National League leading 32 steals this year.

Scherzer (9-5, 2.06 ERA) gave up two hits in six innings and has allowed two runs or less in his last seven starts. He struck out six Tuesday after fanning at least 10 in his previous six outings.

Enny Romero and Blake Treinen each pitched an inning for the Nationals and Matt Albers got the last two outs as the Cubs were held to two hits. Oliver Perez got the first out in the top of the ninth.

The losing pitcher was Jake Arrieta (7-6), who has gone less than five innings in three of his last four starts.

Michael A. Taylor was 2-for-3 for the first-place Nationals (46-31), who are 6-5 against the National League Central. The Cubs (39-38), who had two errors, are just 17-22 away from Wrigley Field.

The second game of the series was a showdown of the past two National League Cy Young winners. But it turned into unusual display of speed on the bases by the Nationals.

The Cubs took a 1-0 lead in the first on a two-out, RBI triple by Kris Bryant. His hit just eluded the leap of center fielder Taylor near the wall and scored Anthony Rizzo, who led off by getting hit by a pitch.

The speed of Turner helped the Nationals tie the game in the last of the first.

Turner reached on an infield single and stole second and third. He scored as Brian Goodwin, the No. 2 hitter, reached on an infield single as Arrieta was late to cover first.

Turner walked and again stole second and third in the third inning and scored when Daniel Murphy reached on an error to make it 2-1.

Washington's speed and porous defense by the Cubs led to two runs for the Nationals in the fourth.

Anthony Rendon singled, stole second, took third on a single by Taylor and scored when Scherzer reached on an infield single off the glove of Arrieta.

Taylor stole second and third and scored when the throw by catcher Miguel Montero went into left field to give the Nationals a 4-1 lead.

Arrieta gave up a single to Murphy and walk to Rendon to start the fifth and was replaced by Felix Pena. Taylor smashed a two-run double into the right-center gap with one out for a 6-1 advantage.

Arrieta, the 2015 Cy Young winner, gave up six runs (five earned), six hits and six walks with four strikeouts in four-plus innings.

NOTES: The Nationals signed veteran RHP Francisco Rodriguez after he was released earlier this month by the Detroit Tigers after posting a 7.82 ERA. ... Cubs manager Joe Maddon will meet with his friend, congressman Lou Barletta (Republican from Pennsylvania), and then head to the White House on Wednesday. Maddon said it is voluntary if any of his players want to go to the White House. Will Maddon get to see President Trump? "It is a possibility," he said ... Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg (8-2, 3.57 ERA) will face Cubs RHP John Lackey (5-8, 4.74 ERA) on Wednesday. ... Chicago acquired RHP Matt Carasiti late Monday for LHP Zac Rosscup. Carasiti was 1-1 with a 2.37 ERA in 27 games this year at Triple-A Albuquerque and he pitched in 19 games with the Rockies last year.