Game 124: Nats at Cubs

Mark Zuckerman / NATS INSIDER

CHICAGO — Hello from the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field, where it's an absolutely gorgeous August evening on the north side of Chicago. The Nationals open a four-game series with the Cubs tonight, a rare trip here with three straight night games and only one day game at the last major-league ballpark to install lights.

The Nationals have a new face on the roster in David DeJesus, acquired from the Cubs this afternoon in a waiver trade. The 33-year-old outfielder simply walked across the diamond before batting practice, met his new teammates and swapped his royal blue Cubs clothing for the Nats' navy blue. He'll be on the bench tonight but available to play if needed.

Jordan Zimmermann gets the start against a Chicago lineup that, at least on name recognition alone, doesn't really inspire a lot of fear. That, of course, means nothing, but it certainly looks like an advantageous matchup for Zimmermann. The Nationals lineup will have its work cut out for itself against Cubs ace Jeff Samardzija.

Updates to come...

WASHINGTON NATIONALS at CHICAGO CUBS
Where: Wrigley Field
Gametime: 8:05 p.m. EDT
TV: MASN2, MLB.tv
Radio: WJFK (106.7 FM), WFED (1500), XM 186
Weather: Clear, 81 degrees, Wind 6 mph out to LF

NATIONALS (60-63)
CF Denard Span
3B Ryan Zimmerman
LF Bryce Harper
RF Jayson Werth
1B Adam LaRoche
SS Ian Desmond
C Wilson Ramos
2B Anthony Rendon
RHP Jordan Zimmermann

CUBS (53-70)
CF Junior Lake
2B Darwin Barney
C Dioner Navarro
RF Nate Schierholtz
SS Starlin Castro
3B Donnie Murphy
LF Darnell McDonald
1B Cody Ransom
RHP Jeff Samardzija

UMPIRES
HP Laz Diaz
1B Bill Miller
2B Mike Winters (cc)
3B Tim Timmons

8:08 p.m. — And we're underway on a gorgeous, 77-degree night along the shore of Lake Michigan.

8:14 p.m. — Not much doing for the Nats in the top of the first. Bryce Harper sent a two-out, opposite-field single to left, but that was all Jeff Samardzija surrendered.

8:25 p.m. — Hmm, not exactly the start to this game Jordan Zimmermann had in mind. Four batters in, he trailed 3-0 after Junior Lake hit a shot off Ryan Zimmerman the turned into a double, Dioner Navarro drew a walk and then Nate Schierholtz launched a three-run homer into the right-field bleachers. Ugly way to get this one going for the Nats.

8:33 p.m. — Adam LaRoche led off the top of the second with a base hit to right, but he was quickly erased when Ian Desmond grounded into a 1-4-3 double play. Samardzija then struck out Wilson Ramos, so the Nats remain in a 3-0 hole heading to the bottom of the second.

9:00 p.m. — It's the Nate Schierholtz Show here tonight, folks. He just drove in his fourth run in three innings with a RBI hit to right in the bottom of the third. The Nats trail 4-0, with Zimmermann not looking sharp and the lineup not offering up much resistance for Samardzija.

9:10 p.m. — Now Donnie Murphy gets into the act. The journeyman infielder takes Zimmermann deep to right field to lead off the bottom of the fourth, making this a 5-0 game. I'll be honest: When I saw the Cubs lineup posted this afternoon, I thought Zimmermann was cruise. I was wrong. He's getting hit hard tonight.

9:18 p.m. — The Nationals lineup, meanwhile, has produced four singles off Samardzija in five innings. That's all. Only one man has reached scoring position. Still 5-0 halfway through this game.

9:32 p.m. — Hoo-boy, it's getting really ugly now. Zimmermann served up another three-run homer, this time to Dioner Navarro. It's now 8-0 after five innings, matching the most runs Zimmermann has ever surrendered. He's still throwing 94 mph, so I don't believe there's anything wrong with his arm. Could it be his neck acting up again? Maybe. Whatever the case, he's really in a funk right now.

9:41 p.m. — That'll do it for both Zimmermen(n). Jordan is yanked after five disastrous innings. Ryan has taken a seat, too, to rest in a blowout situation. Steve Lombardozzi now at third base, Fernando Abad on the mound.

9:53 p.m. — Mercy, Wilson ramos destroyed a pitch from Samardzija, sending the ball flying out of the ballpark and onto Waveland Avenue. Ramos admired it, too, standing at the plate for a second to watch before his slow trot around the bases. It's 8-1 Cubs at the stretch.

10:04 p.m. — It's Nate Schierholtz's world, folks. We're all just living in it. He just clubbed another homer, his second of the night. He's got six RBI. The Nats trail 10-1 after seven.

10:10 p.m. — David DeJesus makes his Nats debut as a pinch-hitter in the top of the eighth, getting a nice ovation from the Wrigley crowd. He tipped his helmet toward them, then popped out on the second pitch he saw. Welcome to D.C., David.

10:15 p.m. — Chicagoland native Ian Krol enters for the bottom of the eighth, and immediately serves up another homer to Donnie Murphy. That's Murphy's second of the night, just like Schierholtz, and the Cubs' fifth of the night. It's 11-1. Mercy. No, seriously, can they just institute the mercy rule here?

10:23 p.m. — Mercifully, this one is now over. The Nats lose 11-1 in a complete stinker of a ballgame. They fall to four games under .500. David DeJesus is wondering if he can sneak back over to the other clubhouse under the cover of night.