Nelson Cruz hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the eighth inning and led the Washington Nationals to a 5-4 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Monday night.
Cruz, who hit a two-run double in the fifth, hit a 1-1 pitch from Brandon Hughes (1-1) behind the center-field fence to break the tie at 4 with one out in the eighth. .
Carl Edwards Jr. (4-3) pitched the eighth scoreless and Kyle Finnegan pitched the ninth for his fifth save.
Ian Happ hit two solo homers for the Cubs, making it to three in the past three games.
Washington promoted shortstop CJ Abrams from Triple-A Rochester on Monday and went 0-for-4 with an error defensively in his Nationals debut. Abrams, 21, was one of five prospects they got in the trade that brought Juan Soto and Josh Bell to the San Diego Padres on Aug. 2.
Starter Josiah Gray allowed three runs on five hits for Washington. He gave away two walks and struck out 10.
Lane Thomas and Yadiel Hernandez had two hits apiece for the Nationals, who had lost nine of their last 11 games.
For the Cubs, the Venezuelan Willson Contreras 5-0. Dominicans Franmil Reyes 4-1 with a run scored; Christopher Morel 4-0.
For the Nationals, the Dominican Nelson Cruz 4-2 with three RBIs and one scored. Cuban Yadiel Hernández 3-2 with one produced and one scored. The Mexican Joey Meneses 4-1. The Venezuelans Ildemaro Vargas 3-1 with a run scored; Keibert Ruiz 3-0.