Nats lose another marathon to Cubs, 6-4 in 10 (updated)

They battled, just like they always do. They also lost a close game late to the Cubs, which they also have done a few times in the last month.

The Nationals' 6-4, 10-inning loss to Chicago tonight felt oh so familiar to anyone who has watched these teams play this summer. Just as they did twice during an agonizing weekend at Wrigley Field in August, the Nats put themselves in position to win. And just as they did then, they could not do the little things necessary to actually win.

Up 4-3 in the eighth, the Nationals let the Cubs tie the game. With a chance to re-take the lead in the bottom of the eighth, they stranded two runners in scoring position. And with a chance to extend the game in the top of the 10th, they gave up the winning runs.

"I'm not down on any of these guys," manager Davey Martinez said. "They're giving me everything they've got. We just have to make better pitches in certain situations, mainly with two strikes. We're giving up too many two-strike hits when we shouldn't."

Jimmy Cordero was the man on the mound in the 10th giving up the decisive runs on doubles by Albert Almora Jr. and David Bote (who infamously hit a walk-off grand slam off Ryan Madson on Aug. 12) and an insurance-run single by Taylor Davis.

The Nationals, as they always do, brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the 10th. They even brought the winning run to the plate with one out. But Juan Soto struck out and Mark Reynolds sent a lazy fly ball to center to end the team's second four-hour game in the last three days.

With the loss, the Nats fell to 69-72. It's the first time they've been three games under .500 this late in a season since 2011.

"I don't focus too much on the record," Trea Turner said. "I think when the day's over is kind of when you think about it. Tomorrow is a new day. I feel like I need to still put in work. I've still got things to do. I feel like a lot of people on this team believe that, as well. There's a lot of hard workers and a lot of people that are going to keep pushing forward and try to get better. I think that's what you've got to do."

The Nationals had a chance to take the lead in the bottom of the eighth, with two runners in scoring position and only one out after Bryce Harper's walk and Soto's double into the right field corner. But Joe Maddon's unconventional gambit - he brought in lefty Justin Wilson to face the right-handed Reynolds paid off. Wilson struck out Reynolds for the fourth time in as many career head-to-head encounters, then got Wilmer Difo to fly out to left to kill the rally and send the game to the ninth still tied.

Greg Holland did his part to give his teammates a chance to win it, retiring the side in the top of the ninth and lowering his ERA in 15 appearances with the Nationals to 0.69. But the lineup couldn't finish it off in regulation time, so this one went extras.

Many hours earlier, the crowd was still arriving when Daniel Murphy received his first ovation of the evening following a pregame video tribute. Only a few minutes later, many in the crowd stood and applauded as the veteran second baseman stepped to the plate for the first time as a member of the Cubs.

More pleasing to the D.C. fans, though, was the Nationals' handling of Murphy. Stephen Strasburg got him to pop up in the first, then struck him out on a changeup at the ankles in the third. Murphy delivered a leadoff single in the fifth and eventually scored, but Matt Grace (brought in to replace Strasburg with two outs in the sixth) needed only three pitches to induce a weak flyball out of Murphy to end that inning.

"He talks a lot about hitting, so I eavesdropped on him for a few years," Strasburg said with a smile. "So, kind of knew what he was trying to do, and have him avoid trying to barrel the ball."

The Cubs' damage against Strasburg came from the middle of the lineup, with Anthony Rizzo and Ben Zobrist driving in all three of their runs against the right-hander. Even then, Strasburg didn't give up much hard contact, done in instead by Rizzo's perfectly placed hit-and-run double, Zobrist's run-scoring grounder that deflected off first base and a sacrifice fly that only allowed Murphy to score because he had advanced to third on Anthony Rendon's throwing error.

Strasburg's velocity - a topic of discussion every time he takes the mound now - was more consistent than in previous starts since he returned from the disabled list. Though he never topped 95 mph, he was able to maintain his fastball velocity throughout his start, even as he built his pitch count up to 111, his highest total since May 20 and his second-highest total of the season.

"You know, it's getting better," he said. "Velocity isn't quite there just yet, but the life is there, so I think that's a positive. So I just keep grinding, just keep working at it."

By the time Strasburg departed, the Nationals had taken a 4-3 lead, enjoying more success the second time the lineup faced Kyle Hendricks than the first. Rendon's double to the right-center gap in the fourth brought home Harper and got them on the board. Two batters later, Reynolds delivered the latest of his well-timed homers for the Nationals.

Reynolds, getting a spot start at first base after Ryan Zimmerman was shaken up sliding headfirst into the plate Wednesday night, looked baffled as he tried to get a hold of Hendricks' trademark changeup through much of the at-bat. But then finally managed to throw his bat out there and get enough wood on it to send the ball flying into the left field bleachers.

Reynolds' 13th home run of the season was the 37th hit by a Nats first baseman this season, a total topped only by the Brewers.

The game now tied, the Nationals took the lead in the bottom of the fifth when Turner delivered a two-out RBI single to left. All they needed now were four scoreless innings from their pitching staff, the final 3 1/3 from their beleaguered bullpen.

Grace did his part in retiring Murphy to end the sixth. Koda Glover did his part in retiring the side in the seventh. But Justin Miller couldn't post another zero in the eighth.

Back-to-back singles by Kris Byrant and Albert Almora Jr. to open the inning set the stage for the Cubs. Willson Contreras' grounder to short then brought Bryant home and tied the game, ultimately creating a scenario that had to leave Nationals fans quaking in their boots: two outs, the go-ahead runner in scoring position and Murphy at the plate.

But Tim Collins entered from the pen and got Murphy to fly out to left, ending the inning and leaving the ex-National a measly 1-for-5 in his first game against his former club.

"I liked it," Martinez said of his pitchers' approach vs. Murphy. "He's a good hitter. I will only tell you (after) they leave, what we're trying to do. But he's good. He's very competitive. It's fun to watch."