Dusty Baker gave Ryan Zimmerman (0 for 5, 12 Ks in Miami) an afternoon off in Friday’s series opener in Chicago’s Wrigley Field, after Daniel Murphy got to rest on Wednesday night in Miami, and got a second day off on Thursday.
Murphy, who was 1 for 15 in the previous five games, responded with a three-hit game in which he hit his 18th and 19th home runs on the season, leading the Nationals to a 4-2 win over the Cubs.
The Nationals’ 2-3-4 hitters, Howie Kendrick, Bryce Harper, and Murphy went 7 for 11 in the first of three with the Cubbies.