Hoerner, Cubs top power-hitting rookie Meneses, Nationals
Nico Hoerner homered to ignite a 4-run rally in the seventh inning that sent the Cubs over power-hitting rookie Joey Meneses and the Washington Nationals 4-2 Wednesday at Wrigley Field.
Hoerner's seventh home run ended a shutout bid by Nationals starter Josiah Gray and enabled the Cubs to earn just their second win in 51 games in which they trailed entering the seventh.
The Cubs have won four of six and next play Thursday in the "Field of Dreams" game in Iowa against Cincinnati.
Meneses homered in his third straight game for the Nationals, who have lost seven of eight.
The 30-year-old Meneses, who made his major league debut on Aug. 2, became the first player in Nationals franchise history to homer four times in his first seven games. Danny Espinosa and Geoff Blum each hit three homers in their first seven career MLB games.
Meneses hit a solo home run in the sixth. The first baseman/outfielder also singled and is hitting .348 in the majors.
Gray had a 2-0 lead and had permitted 5 hits before Hoerner homered. Gray was pulled after Yan Gomes singled.
The Cubs' Nick Madrigal hit a single off reliever Steve Cishek (1-3), and a throwing error by center fielder Victor Robles enabled two runners to move into scoring position.
Rafael Ortega followed with a sacrifice fly off Cishek, and Ian Happ capped the comeback with an RBI single off Carl Edwards Jr.
Michael Rucker (1-1) pitched a scoreless seventh for the Cubs to earn his first major league win. Rowan Wick struck out Maikel Franco with the tying run at first to end the eighth and earned his sixth save in eight opportunities.
A diving catch by Robles in the fifth helped keep the Nationals ahead.
The Nationals took a 1-0 lead with two out in the third when Ortega made an unsuccessful diving attempt of a line drive by Cesar Hernandez that skipped past him in center for a double to score Tres Barrera from first.
Cubs left-hander Justin Steele was victimized by the lack of support despite striking out nine and walking none in six innings. He has allowed 2 earned runs while striking out 25 and walking two in his last three starts.
Steele struck out Barrera with the bases loaded to end the fourth.