Cubs vs. Nationals an up and down game after a rain delayed start

After a two-hour rain delay, the Cubs and Nationals were able to start the final game of the four-game series Thursday afternoon at Wrigley Field.  The Cubs never held a lead in the game but then managed to tie the game at 4 in the bottom of the ninth inning, thanks to Donnie Murphy, who hit a homer with two outs.

The game then went on for four more innings, until the Nationals scored and ended up winning 5-4 over the Cubs.

Here are some photos I took at today's game:

Cubs players and coaches lined up during the National Anthem before Thursday's game against the Nationals

Wayne Messmer singing the National Anthem before Thursday's Cubs game

All-Star Travis Wood pitching during Thursday's game against the Nationals

Darwin Barney and Anthony Rizzo chat while reliever Blake Parker warms up

Former Cub David DeJesus playing for the Nationals

For a complete recap of the game, here's a link to the story on cubs.com.


Tomorrow the Cubs will start a three-game series against the Padres in San Diego.  First pitch is scheduled for 9:10pm CT.  Edwin Jackson will make the start for the Cubs and try to earn his eighth win of the season.

Cubs win 11-1 over Nationals and David DeJesus as Samardzija pitches complete game and Schierholtz has 6 RBI

It was an interesting day for Cubs news as word first surfaced that outfielder David DeJesus had been traded to the Washington Nationals around 2:30pm CT this afternoon.  DeJesus said that it felt like time stopped for him when talking to Cubs President Theo Epstein on the phone when during complimenting DeJesus, Epstein told him he had been traded to the Nationals.  DeJesus' wife Kim, a Chicago area native from Wheaton and lifelong Cubs fan, reportedly cried when DeJesus broke the news to her.

Outfielder David DeJesus was traded to the Nationals today (Yahoo Sports photo)

At least DeJesus didn't have far to go, as the Cubs started the first game of a 4-game series against the Nationals tonight at Wrigley Field.   We wish David and Kim nothing but the best in the future.

The Cubs went on to crush the Nationals 11-1 as Jeff Samardzija pitched a complete game and Nate Schierholtz homered twice and had 6 RBI.  Donnie Murphy also hit two homers and Dioner Navarro hit a homer. 

Nate Schierholtz is congratulated by Dioner Navarro as he crosses home plate (Chicago Sun-Times photo)

In the top of the 8th inning, DeJesus was called on to pinch-hit for the Nationals and he received a warm greeting from Cubs fans as he stepped up to the plate.  Navarro gave him a hug and after he flied out, second baseman Darwin Barney and other of his former teammates gave him encouragement.

DeJesus was a leader in the Cubs' clubhouse and will surely be missed.  But Cubs General Manager Jed Hoyer said there's a chance DeJesus could return to the Cubs in 2014....we shall see!

Tomorrow the Cubs and Nationals play game two at 7:05pm CT.  Left-handed pitcher Chris Rusin will make the start for the Cubs and try to earn his third win of the season.

Two bench-clearing brawls in the Cubs 9-2 loss to Nationals

The Cubs lost 9-2 to the Washington Nationals in a bench-clearing game tonight at Nationals Park.  The incidents started when the Nationals' third base coach Bo Porter walked over to the Cubs' dugout in the fifth inning and started screaming at Cubs bench coach Jamie Quirk.  This resulted in both benches being emptied, although there was no physical contact at this point.  Quirk was ejected but Porter was not.

Then in the sixth inning, an inside pitch thrown by Manny Corpas to Bryce Harper ignited another bench-clearing episode and resulted in Steve Clevenger and Corpas being ejected.

Michael Gonzalez was the only Nationals player ejected tonight, which doesn't seem fair.  The Cubs ended up being swept in the four-game series and are now on pace to lose 102 games this season. (yikes!)

The Cubs-Nationals game turned into a bench-clearing brawl on Thursday night (photo from Chicago Tribune)

Justin Germano started for the Cubs and lasted only four innings as he allowed six runs on seven hits while walking two batters and striking out two. 

Even though the Cubs have had such a high turnaround rate for players and are in a "building season," it sill doesn't make it any easier for fans or players to stomach. 

Tomorrow the Cubs will start a three-game series against the third place NL Central Pirates in Pittsburgh at 6:05pm CT.  Travis Wood will start for the Cubs and try to earn his fifth win of the season.  Let's hope there are no ejections or fights in Pittsburgh (and some Cubs wins!)