Tough Night in Chicago 
Our Washington Nationals took on the Chicago Cubs in what turned out to be a challenging game for our team. Despite solid efforts, we couldn’t overcome the Cubs' pitching and timely hitting.Early Setback
The game started off quietly for us, with CJ Abrams and Dylan Crews both making outs in the top of the 1st. James Wood showed some patience at the plate by drawing a walk, but Andres Chaparro struck out looking to end our half of the inning. Meanwhile, the Cubs capitalized immediately in the bottom of the 1st with a solo homer by Dansby Swanson, putting them ahead 1-0.Opportunities Missed
We had our chances but couldn’t cash in. In the top of the 3rd, Darren Baker reached first with a bunt single followed by Abrams on a fielder's choice. Crews walked, and Chaparro was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but unfortunately, Jose Tena lined out to left, leaving us stranded.Pitching Kept Us Close 
Our pitching staff did a commendable job keeping the Cubs in check after Swanson's early homer. By the end of the 6th inning, it was still a 1-0 game thanks to our pitchers working efficiently through the Cubs' lineup. R. Garcia and Salazar pitched scoreless innings to keep the game within reach.Cubs Extend Their Lead in the 7th 
The bottom of the 7th was tough to watch. After a wild pitch and a timely single by pinch-hitter Mike Tauchman, the Cubs pushed their lead to 3-0. Our bullpen struggled, and despite a pitching change to Rainey, the damage was done.A Glimmer of Hope 
There was a spark in the top of the 8th when James Wood smashed a solo homer to right field, cutting the deficit to 3-1. This was an exciting moment and gave us a bit of hope.Final Inning, Final Push 
Heading into the top of the 9th, the score remained 3-1. Gallo and Millas both struck out looking, and Baker grounded out to second to end the game. Despite the loss, we can be proud of our guys for their efforts.It was a tough game, but we keep our heads up and look forward to the next contest! Go Nationals!
Scoreboard for Nationals @ Cubs (September 20th, 2024)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 |