Murphy, Taylor go deep in second (Cubs win 9-8)

That wasn't the first inning Gio Gonzalez would have wanted to begin Game 5 of the National League Division Series.

Jon Jay led off with a double and went to third on wild pitch. After Kris Bryant struck out, Jay came home on an Anthony Rizzo grounder to Daniel Murphy. It marked Rizzo's sixth RBI of the series.

Albert Almora Jr. singled and Addison Russell was walked to load the bases. Jason Heyward grounded out to first baseman Ryan Zimmerman to end the threat.

The Cubs managed one run despite loading the bases.

The Nationals got something going in the bottom of the first on a single by Trea Turner. He stole second base and Jayson Werth got him to third with a lineout to deep center field.

Turner broke for home on Bryce Harper's grounder to second. Javier Báez fired home and Willson Contreras tagged out a sliding Turner. Zimmerman struck out.

After one inning, the Cubs lead the Nats 1-0.

Update: The Nats took it to Kyle Hendricks in the second. Murphy led off with a home run and Anthony Rendon singled. Matt Wieters laid down a surprisingly perfect bunt single up the third base line to get two men on. The red-hot Michael A. Taylor then slammed a three-run shot over the left field wall.

Taylor's seven RBIs are the most in a division series in franchise history. Gary Carter (1981) and Murphy (2016) each had six RBIs. Taylor's last two at-bats in the series have produced a grand slam and a three-run homer.

After two innings, the Nats lead the Cubs 4-1.

Update II: The Cubs quickly answered the Nats' big inning. Bryant doubled to lead off the third. With one out, Contreras and Almora walked. Bryant came home on a wild pitch and Addison Russell's grounder to Turner scored Contreras. Gonzalez struck out Heyward to end the inning.

Matt Albers has twice been up in the bullpen.

After three innings, the Nats lead the Cubs 4-3.

Update III: Max Scherzer pitched the fifth for the Nats and recorded two outs to begin the frame.

Then the Cubs reeled off two singles and a two-run double by Addison Russell. The Cubs later scored a run on an errant throw to first by Wieters after a passed ball on a strikeout and Scherzer hit a batter with the bases loaded.

Mid-fifth and the Cubs led the Nats 7-4.

Update IV: Facing Brandon Kintzler with two outs in the sixth, Ben Zobrist walked. Russell laced a line drive to left field. It appeared Werth was going to make a sliding catch, but the ball was just out of his reach and rolled to the wall scoring Zobrist. Russell was awarded a double. He has four RBIs.

The Cubs have scored seven unanswered runs.

Mid-sixth, the Cubs lead the Nats 8-4.

Update V: The Nats punched back in the sixth. With two outs, Werth walked. Facing Mike Montgomery, Harper doubled. On a Zimmerman walk, the pitch got away from Contreras to score Werth. Murphy added an RBI double. The inning ended on a line drive out to right fielder Heyward off the bat of Wieters.

After six innings and three hours, the Cubs lead the Nats 8-6.

In the seventh, the Cubs added a run. Pinch-hitter Kyle Schwarber and Jay singled off of Sammy Solís. Ryan Madson relieved and got a fielder's choice grounder off the bat of Bryant, but a run scored.

Mid-seventh, the Cubs lead the Nats 9-6.

Update VI: In the seventh, the Nats got walks from Taylor and Werth, wrapped around a single by Turner, to load the bases. Harper's sacrifrice fly to center field scored Taylor. With two men on and two outs against Wade Davis, ZImmerman struck out on a 92 mph cutter.

After seven innings, the Cubs lead the Nats 9-7.

Update VII: In the eighth, the Nats got one run closer on a RBI single by Taylor. It marks the first time in major league history a player tallied four RBIs in back-to-back postseason games.

Taylor moved to second on a Lobaton single. With two outs, Lobaton was caught off first on a pickoff throw from Contreras to Rizzo. Lobaton was originally called safe, but the call was overturned upon video review.

After eight innings, the Cubs lead the Nats 9-8.

Update VIII: Facing Davis in the bottom of the ninth, Turner flew out to center field. Werth struck out. Harper struck out on a 3-2 pitch to end the game and the season.

Final score: Cubs 9, Nats 8.