CHICAGO (AP) — Seiya Suzuki homered and drove in three runs on a four-hit night, and the Chicago Cubs poured it on late to beat the Washington Nationals 17-3 Tuesday night.
Patrick Wisdom hit his team-leading 17th homer in the seventh inning to put the Cubs ahead 4-3, and Chicago went on to score five more runs in the seventh and eight in the eighth.
Wisdom has gone deep in back-to-back games and in three of four. He ignited Chicago's offense with his drive onto Waveland Avenue.
“I think I was just more pumped I put us ahead in the game,” Wisdom said. “I know I hit the ball hard.”
Suzuki had a homer and three singles in six at-bats and scored twice. Manager David Ross said the right fielder from Japan “looked phenomenal.”
Wisdom agreed.
“He's a special player,” Wisdom said. “He's electric. He definitely sparked it for sure.”
Miguel Amaya and Michael Tauchman each drove in three runs for the Cubs, who finished with 20 hits.
“Up and down the lineup, everybody contributed,” Ross said. “These guys have been putting in a lot of work and grinding a little bit. It's nice to kind of break it open an add on.”
Amaya had a two-run single to cap Chicago's seventh-inning outburst against relievers Amos Willingham (0-2) and Jose Ferrer.
Willingham got the final two outs in the sixth after starter Patrick Corbin exited, but couldn't retire a batter in the seventh and was charged with four runs — starting with Wisdom's shot on a center-cut fastball.
“That Wisdom at-bat, it’s going to sit with me for a long time,” Willingham said. “I’m probably not going to sleep a whole lot tonight. Just because that kind of changed the whole direction of the game.”
The Cubs sent 13 men to the plate in the eighth. Nico Hoerner had two RBI singles in the frame.
Michael Fulmer (1-5), the first Chicago reliever, got four outs — three via strikeout.
Washington took a 3-0 lead in the first two innings against Jameson Taillon, who settled in after that, working 5 2/3 innings. Ross pulled Taillon after the big right-hander tumbled trying to field Dominic Smith’s infield single. Fulmer replaced Taillon, who had thrown 92 pitches and wasn't injured.
Lane Thomas broke a 16-game drought with his team-leading 15th homer, and Corey Dickerson had two RBIs for last-place Washington. Corbin returned from the paternity list and allowed three runs in 5 1/3 innings.
OOPS
Left fielder Dickerson dropped pinch-hitter Tauchman’s short fly with one out in the sixth, but was able to force Cody Bellinger at third.
SHOELESS DAVE
Washington manager Dave Martinez began his 16-year playing career with the Cubs in 1986 and has fond memories of playing the outfield at Wrigley Field. His favorite: “The ivy. I really do, I love it,” Martinez said.
Martinez urges players to exercise care near the unforgiving brick wall that’s cloaked in green.
“I lost a shoe in there, jumping for a ball,” he said. “My shoe came off, and I had to go find it and put it back on. You learn real quick about running into that wall.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cubs: 2B Christopher Morel was scratched just before the game with neck tightness. Miles Mastrobuoni took his spot and went 3 for 5.
UP NEXT
Washington RHP Trevor Williams (5-5, 4.42 ERA) faces Chicago RHP Kyle Hendricks (3-4, 3.57) Wednesday in the series finale.
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