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Cubs come back to beat Nationals 6-4

With so much attention focused on Daniel Murphy's return to Washington for the first time since he was traded to the Chicago Cubs, it was his in-game replacement - David Bote - who once again tormented the Nationals.
 
Bote had a pinch-hit RBI double and scored in the 10th inning as the Cubs came back to beat the Nationals 6-4 on Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series.
 
Bote, who hit a two-out grand slam in the bottom of the ninth to give the Cubs a 4-3 win over Washington on Aug. 12 at Wrigley Field, knocked a 100 mph fastball from Jimmy Cordero (1-2) into right field to score Albert Almora Jr. Bote came home on a single by pinch-hitter Taylor Davis.
 
Bote, who finished the game at second base, was certain Nats fans hadn't forgotten what he did in Chicago last month.
 
Murphy went 1 for 5 with a strikeout during his first game in Washington since he was dealt to the Cubs on Aug 21.
 
While Chicago has the best record in the National League and leads the NL Central by 4½ games over Milwaukee, manager Joe Maddon is still looking to tighten up some things and admits he becomes a perfectionist at times.
 
Washington has lost three straight to fall to 69-72. The Nationals are three games under .500 for the first time since April 30.
 
Pedro Strop (5-1) pitched a scoreless ninth, and Jesse Chavez earned his third save.
 
Washington took a 3-2 lead in the fourth when Mark Reynolds belted his 13th homer of the season, a two-run shot to left field.
 
Murphy scored on Ben Zobrist's sacrifice fly to tie it at 3 in the fifth.
 
Spencer Kieboom had a career-high three hits for Washington.
 
Stephen Strasburg pitched 5 2/3 innings for the Nationals, allowing six hits while walking three and striking out six. He gave up three runs, two earned, while throwing 111 pitches - his most since tossing a season-high 115 on May 20.
 
Up next for the Cubs: LHP Jon Lester (15-5, 3.53 ERA) will start in Washington for the first time since the 2017 NL Division Series. Lester is 2-2 with a 4.25 ERA in seven career starts against the Nationals.

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