WASHINGTON – A rare, sudden lapse by Kyle Hendricks midgame. An injury scare to early season MVP candidate Javy Baez. And a one-run lead to protect for two innings with no closer.
Welcome to Sunday night baseball for the Cubs, who survived the schedule, the scare and the late innings to beat the Nationals 6-5 for a road series win to salvage a 3-3 finish to a two-city trip.
“I’m good,” Baez said before reporters could ask the first question about his bruised right heel after the game. “It all depends how it goes tonight. I want to play tomorrow, and [manager Joe Maddon] is going to decide what’s going to happen, if I play or if he gives me a day.