WASHINGTON, June 5, 2025 — The Washington Nationals defeated the Chicago Cubs 2-0 on June 4 at Nationals Park, evening their three-game series. MacKenzie Gore pitched seven scoreless innings, and Amed Rosario’s seventh-inning home run broke the deadlock, securing the win for Washington.
The game, attended by 21,965 fans, saw Gore (3-5, 2.87 ERA) dominate, allowing three hits, striking out seven, and walking one over 94 pitches. He escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first inning, retiring 21 of his final 23 batters. Brad Lord pitched a scoreless eighth, and Kyle Finnegan earned his 17th save, allowing two hits in the ninth. Matthew Boyd (5-3, 3.01 ERA) took the loss for the Cubs, giving up two runs on four hits over 7.1 innings, striking out six. Génesis Cabrera closed the eighth for Chicago.
Rosario’s third home run of the season, a solo shot to right field in the seventh, gave the Nationals a 1-0 lead. Nasim Nuñez doubled in the eighth, driving in Alex Call to make it 2-0. Nuñez also stole a base and scored, though he was caught stealing and picked off earlier. The Nationals’ four hits included Nuñez’s double and Rosario’s homer, with Call and Robert Hassell III each adding a single.
The Cubs, despite loading the bases in the first, managed only five hits. Ian Happ, Seiya Suzuki, Carson Kelly, Dansby Swanson, and Michael Busch each recorded a single, with Happ and Suzuki drawing walks. Nico Hoerner stole his 13th base but was hit by a pitch and left two runners in scoring position. Chicago stranded eight runners, going 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position. Pete Crow-Armstrong struck out three times, and Kyle Tucker, pinch-hitting in the ninth, grounded out to end the game.
The Nationals (29-32, 3rd NL East) capitalized on their limited opportunities, going 0-for-2 with runners in scoring position but scoring on Rosario’s homer and Nuñez’s double. The Cubs (38-23, 1st NL Central) struggled offensively, unable to convert early momentum into runs. The game, played under clear skies with 86-degree weather, lasted 2 hours and 11 minutes.
Chicago challenged a trap play in the fifth, but the call was upheld. Umpires Shane Livensparger (home plate), Nate Tomlinson (first base), Mark Wegner (second base), and Bruce Dreckman (third base) officiated. The Nationals’ victory snapped the Cubs’ recent dominance, following Chicago’s 8-3 win on June 3, where Michael Busch nearly hit for the cycle.
Both teams prepare for the series finale on June 5 at 6:45 p.m. EDT. The Cubs have not announced a starter, while Washington will send Jake Irvin (5-1, 3.93 ERA) to the mound. The Nationals’ pitching staff, led by Gore’s recent form, has lowered its ERA in recent outings, while the Cubs aim to regain offensive momentum.
