Taylor, Harper showcase Nats' defensive abilities

When the Nationals limped out of the gates in April, it was largely due to poor defense and untimely errors. Several close games were lost because of fielding gaffes. But the Nats have not only cleaned up their problems, they are actually taking advantage of the pure athleticism their dynamic outfielders possess.

Michael A. Taylor and Bryce Harper made run-saving catches yesterday in back-to-back innings. Taylor, who struggled early this year in center, is now playing left while Jayson Werth is on the 15-day disabled list with a left wrist contusion. Cubs starter Tsuyoshi Wada smoked a ball that appeared to be headed for extra bases until Taylor came flying through the air to snatch it to end the inning and prevent a run.

Harper, who has played Gold Glove-caliber defense all year, made a leaping grab on Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo before running full steam into the ivy-covered brick wall at Wrigley Field. The impressive play closed out the third, keeping another run off the scoreboard.

"They pretty much beat us with outfield defense," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said to reporters after the game. "You look at a game like that and you're gonna say, 'We lost 2-1.' We did. But give them some credit regarding the defense they played in the outfield. Those were the game-changers. They beat us because their defense in the outfield was so good."

Of course, Denard Span has been stellar all season in center field while running down balls in the gaps and at the track. But Span has also shown some added pop in his bat through the season's first two months. He mashed a solo home run to start yesterday's game. It was Span's second leadoff homer this year. Span already has four home runs in 28 games this year. For perspective, he hit his fourth dinger last year on Sept. 1 in his 136th game. He has only hit more than four homers in a season three times, including when he left the yard a career-best eight times in 2009.

"To his pull side, if he's short, he can hit the ball a long way," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. "He's had a few of those so far since he's been back ... just short to the baseball on a ball in and he gets elevated."

Span's first-inning blast and Wilson Ramos' solo shot in the sixth were the only two runs the Nationals managed against the Cubs in the series opener. But they were enough, as right-hander Tanner Roark turned in five strong innings in his first start followed by four scoreless frames from the Nats bullpen, which included Drew Storen's National League-leading 15th save.

"I love it out there in those tight spots, especially on the road," Storen said on "Nats Xtra" on MASN. "I couldn't ask for a better situation in this beautiful ballpark ... good crowd. Luckily, it worked out."

Maddon had nothing but praise for the Nats after his Cubs lost the opener of the three-game series.

"Both sides pitched really well," Maddon said. "It was a great baseball game. It was outstanding ... thoroughly entertaining. We just have to figure out a way to win those things. But I will take our effort, our performance. And also my takeaway is that they are as good as anybody that we've played so far. So I'm really enjoying that part about it, too."

Right-hander Jordan Zimmermann takes the mound tonight. He is 4-2 with a 3.52 ERA this year and the Nationals have won five straight games that Zimmermann has started.