Going into the fifth-inning of Thursday night's game at Nationals Park, the Chicago Cubs probably can't wait to leave Washington as soon as possible. The home team, the Washington Nationals, opened up the scoring in a big way all in the third-inning and now lead the Cubs 7-0.
Twelve batters went to the plate for the Nationals in the third, including eight straight batters getting on base to put together the largest single inning total of the season for the Nats. It all started with a Livan Hernandez single to start the inning. Roger Bernadina then followed with a double and after that the scoring began. The next batter, Danny Espinosa hit a two-run single. Ryan Zimmerman then got onto base and then Michael Morse logged another hit scoring Espinosa. Right fielder Jayson Werth then broke out of his slump with a single of his own that scored Zimmerman. Wilson Ramos then hammered a double to score Morse and Werth. Ramos' double finally retired Chicago pitcher Matt Garza. Center fielder Roger Bernadina completed the third-inning scoring after hitting a RBI single off reliever Jeff Samardzija.
The flood gates have opened in Washington on Thursday night as the Nationals take a commanding lead and are highly probable to sweep the Cubs in a four game series.