Five-run eighth lifts Nats to thrilling 7-4 win

CHICAGO - If the Nationals keep this up, they're going to shorten their fans' lifespan by a few years. Not sure if anyone in the D.C. area would mind, however. On Thursday, the Nats came back from a run down in the late innings, tying the game in the eighth and taking the lead in the ninth. Today, yet again, the Nats put together an eighth inning rally against the Cubs bullpen. Washington entered the frame trailing by two, and left the eighth holding a 7-4 lead, thanks to a miraculous two-out rally in which they batted around and eight straight hitters reached base. After Cubs reliever Kerry Wood retired Steve Lombardozzi and Ian Desmond to start the inning, Danny Espinosa homered to left, cutting the deficit to 4-3. Ryan Zimmerman and Adam LaRoche then singled, and after Jayson Werth walked to load the bases, Chad Tracy again played the hero. Tracy, whose double in the ninth inning set up the game-winning run on opening day, singled to right off Cubs closer Carlos Marmol, with the ball just veering past the glove of a diving second baseman Darwin Barney. The single scored Zimmerman and LaRoche, giving the Nats a 5-4 lead. A Roger Bernadina double then plated Tracy, and after Wilson Ramos walked, Lombardozzi plated the Nats' seventh run with an infield single. I think Cubs manager Dale Sveum might've gotten sick by that point. Henry Rodriguez struck out the side for the Nats in the ninth, giving the righty his first save of the season, and securing Washington's second straight thrilling win at Wrigley Field.