Lackey digs big hole, Strasburg on target (Nats win 8-4)

What a beginning to this game for Stephen Strasburg. John Lackey? Well, not so much.

Strasburg allowed a single by Kris Bryant in the first inning, but nothing else. He proceeded to strike out the side in the second.

Facing Lackey, Bryce Harper doubled with two outs in the bottom of the first. He came home on a Ryan Zimmerman RBI single.

In the second, Anthony Rendon (No. 15) and Matt Wieters (No. 7) slammed back-to-back home runs. It marked the seventh time this season two Nats have left the yard consecutively. It's the first time it has happened since June 16.

And then it got worse.

With one out, Strasburg singled. Trea Turner then singled. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position. A walk to Brian Goodwin loaded the bases.

On four pitches, Harper was walked. The Nats extended their lead to 4-0. A bobbled grounder by Bryant and a hustling Zimmerman plated Turner. Bryant took a fielding error on the play.

After two innings, the Nats lead 5-0 for Strasburg.

Update: The Nats added to their lead in the third, thanks to the hot hitting of Rendon. He doubled to begin the third. Rendon went to third on a Wieters groundout. A long fly ball to center field by Michael A. Taylor scored Rendon on a sac fly that gave the Nats a 6-0 lead after three innings.

The Cubs got on the board in the top of the fourth. After Bryant's double, Willson Contreras crushed a two-run shot (No. 9) over the left field wall.

Strasburg was able to get Javier Báez to ground into a 6-6-3 double play to end the threat.

After 3 1/2 innings, the Nats lead the Cubs 6-2.

Update II: The Cubs added a run in the fifth on a fielding error by Zimmerman. Albert Almora Jr. doubled to lead off the inning. Mark Zagunis reached when his ground ball to first was fielded by Zimmerman, who stumbled on way to the bag. Almora scored. In the bottom of the inning, Daniel Murphy got that run right back with a solo shot, his 14th of the season.

Bad news for Cubs. Bryant tripped over third base seeking a popup off bat of Wieters. He made the catch but left the game with a leg injury. Bryant was replaced by Jeimer Candelario.

After five innings, the Nats lead the Cubs 7-3.

Update III: With one out in the sixth, Turner doubled. That ended Lackey's night. With two outs against Brian Duensing, Harper doubled to score Turner.

Strasburg struck out two more in the seventh. He has 13 strikeouts on the night.

After 6 1/2 innings, the Nats lead 8-3.

Update IV: Strasburg finished seven innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits with one walk and 13 strikeouts. Strasburg threw 96 pitches, 70 for strikes.

In the eighth with one out against Enny Romero, Anthony Rizzo slammed a solo homer (No. 18) over the right center field wall. The Nats now lead 8-4 over the Cubs.

Update V: Matt Albers pitched the ninth. He earned first two outs and then walked Almora. Albers made a nice grab of a comebacker off the bat of Tommy La Stella and threw to first to end the game.

The Cubs have managed just eight hits last two games against the Nats.

Final score: Nats 8, Cubs 4.