Cubs vs. Nationals: Score, highlights from Cubs' NLDS Game 5 clincher

Jason Foster

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Cubs vs. Nationals: Score, highlights from Cubs' NLDS Game 5 clincher image

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Cubs vs. Nationals: Score, updates, highlights from NLDS Game 5

Final: Cubs 9, Nationals 7 (Cubs win series)

It'll be the Cubs and Dodgers in the National League Championship Series after Chicago came from behind and staved off an intense Nationals rally Wednesday in the decisive Game 5 of the NLDS in Washington. The game was a thriller from the first inning and only got better as the night went on.

For the Cubs, the clincher allows them to continue their mission to repeat World Series champions. For the Nationals, it's more postseason heartbreak. For baseball fans, it was a treat to watch.

MORE: Cubs reach NLCS for third straight year | Nats fail in October (again)

For a full recap, scroll to the bottom.

*****

Bottom of the ninth

12:45 a.m.: Harper strikes out swinging on a nasty curve from Wade Davis. Ballgame. Cubs win 9-8 and advance to the NLCS to take on the Dodgers. Davis gets a seven-out save.

12:41 a.m.: Werth strikes out swinging. Nats down to their last out. It'll be Bryce Harper as the last hope. This is who Nats fans want up.

12:38 a.m.: Turner flies out to center. Two outs left for the Nats, down by one.

*****

Top of the ninth (Cubs 9, Nationals 8)

12:32 a.m.: Martin lines out to Werth in left. To the bottom of the ninth we go. Certainly this game has some more drama left, right?

12:30 a.m.: Baez goes down swinging on a super-high pitch.

12:29 a.m.: Heyward strikes out swinging.

Sean Doolittle on the mound for the Nats.

*****

Bottom of the eighth (Cubs 9, Nationals 8)

12:22 a.m.: Cubs attempt to pick off Lobaton at first. Bang-bang play. Looks like his foot might have come off the bag while tag was still on. Cubs reviewing. This will be a huge, huge call. Aaaaaand, he's out. Wow. Huge. That ends the threat in a hurry. On to the ninth.

12:19 a.m.: Lobaton lines a single up the middle. Taylor to second. Tying run at second. Once again, I ask you to hold on to your bottom. 

12:15 a.m.: Taylor singles into center to score Murphy from third. He's had a great couple of days. Meanwhile, it's a one-run game. Because of course it is. 9-8 Cubs.

12:13 a.m.: Home plate ump Jerry Layne gets shaken up on a pitch that hits him directly in the mask. Looks like Contreras migth have been crossed up.

12:12 a.m.:  Adam Lind, pinch-hitting for Madson, grounds into a 4-6-3 double play on the first pitch. Welp. That certainly changes things. Murphy moves to third, though.

12:10 a.m.: Rendon walks, too. Tying runs on. Gotta love what you're watching, baseball fans.

12:06 a.m.: Murphy walks to lead off. Tying run up again. Man, this game.

*****

Top of the eighth (Cubs 9, Nationals 7)

12:01 a.m. (Good morning!): Russell strikes out swinging, but the ball gets away from Lobaton, who has to throw to first for the out. Hey, look at that! A 1-2-3 inning!

11:59 p.m.: Zobrist grounds out hard to Zimmerman at first for the ol' "3-U."

11:57 p.m.: Contreras chops one off the plate to Madson, who throws to first in time for the out.

*****

Bottom of the seventh (Cubs 9, Nationals 7)

11:52 p.m.: Davis fans Zimmerman, who looked bad on a weak swinging strike three. No way we're done with the scoring in this game.

11:46 p.m.: Harper lines out to right-center for a sac fly. He just missed it. Still, Taylor scores from third. 9-7 Cubs. That's all for Quintana. In comes Wade Davis, the closer. Leonys Martin comes in to play center for Jay.

11:44 p.m.: Werth walks. Bases are loaded for Harper. Again, hold on to your butts.

11:39 p.m.: Trea Turner singles through the right side to move Taylor to second with one out. Another rally brewing. Tying run at the plate.

11:38 p.m.: Jose Lobaton goes after the first pitch and pops out to Heyward in shallow right. Zero patience from Lobaton there.

11:33 p.m.: Michael A. Taylor walks to lead off. Here we go again(?). That's it for Edwards Jr., who threw five pitches. Ouch. Starter Jose Quintana is coming in. It's getting serious now.

Carl Edwards Jr. on to pitch for the Cubs.

*****

Top of the seventh (Cubs 9, Nationals 6)

11:27 p.m.: Rizzo grounds out to Murphy, who was playing in shallow right. 

11:22 p.m.: Bryant grounds to Rendon at third, who tries to start a 5-4-3 double play, but Bryant beats the wrap at first. Schwarber scores. 9-6 Cubs. Nats are challenging the takeout slide at second. Umps rule the slide was clean/legal. Crowd boos, of course.

11:17 p.m.: Jon Jay singles up the middle to send Schwarber to third. Now it's the Cubs who are rallying. The Nats' bullpen hasn't done them any favors tonight. Speaking of the 'pen, Dusty Baker is making a double switch. Ryan Madson comes on to pitch with one out. Jose Lobaton comes in to catch.

11:14: Kyle Schwarber, pinch-hitting for Montgomery, hits one of the top of the right-field wall for a ... single. That was hit, like, really hard. He hit it too hard, actually. Had to settle for one base.

11:12 p.m.: Baez grounds weakly to Zimmerman, who tags him out.

Sammy Solis is now pitching for the Nats.

*****

Bottom of the sixth (Cubs 8, Nationals 6)

11:09 p.m.: The move pays off as Wieters flys out to Heyward along the line in deep right. Nice play. Nats are right back in it, though.

11:08: Cubs intentionally walk Rendon to get to Wieters.

11:07 p.m.: Murphy drives a double over Zobrist's head and off the wall in left. Harper scores, Zimmerman to third. 8-6. It's getting really interesting.

11:03: p.m.: Ball four to Zimmerman is a wild pitch that scores Werth from third. 8-5 Cubs, runners at first and third. It's getting interesting.

10:59 p.m.: Harper bangs a double down the first-base line, sending Werth to third. A mini-rally is in the works.

10:55 p.m.: Werth draws a two-out walk. Harper's coming up. Cubs going to the pen again. Mike Montgomery on to pitch.

10:52 p.m.: Turner grounds out to Bryant at third. Things getting awfully quiet at Nats Park.

10:51 p.m.: Wilmer Difo, pinch-hitting for Kintzler, hits a dribbler in front of the mound. Strop throws him out.

*****

Top of the sixth (Cubs 8, Nationals 4)

10:47 p.m.: Heyward pops out to Taylor in center. 

10:43 p.m. Russell lines one to left to Werth, who appeared to lose the ball in the lights on an awkward attempt at a sliding catch. Ball goes all the way to the wall, scoring Zobrist. Score it as a double. Things are realling not going the Nats' way. Surprise, surprise. 8-4 Cubs. That's four RBIs tonight for Russell. Meanwhile, two-out trouble gets the Nats again.

10:42 p.m.: Zobrist walks with two outs.

10:39 p.m.: Contreras grounds out to short.

10:37 p.m.: Rizzo hits one right back to Kintzler, who fields it cleanly and tosses to first for the out.

Brandon Kintzler on to pitch for the Nationals.

*****

Bottom of the fifth (Cubs 7, Nationals 4)

10:32 p.m.: Strop makes quick work of Michael A. Taylor and strikes him out swinging. No heroics for Taylor this time. Inning over.

10:28 p.m.: Wieters goes down swinging. That's all for Duensing, though. Joe Maddon summons Pedro Strop from the 'pen.

10:24 p.m.: Anthony Rendon lines out to center.

10:19 p.m.: Daniel Murphy walks on four pitches to lead off.

Brian Duensing now on the mound for the Cubs.

*****

Top of the fifth (Cubs 7, Nationals 4)

10:15 p.m.: Bryant pops out to Turner at short to (finally) end the inning. Raise your hand if you had the Nationals imploding with Scherzer on the mound. A long way to go, though.

10:13 p.m.: Jon Jay is hit by a pitch, forcing in a run. 7-4 Cubs. What a dumpster fire for the Nats, who, as you know, typically don't agree with the postseason. 

10:12 p.m.: Tommy La Stella reaches on catcher's interference, which is apparently a new trendy thing in the postseason. Bases loaded.

10:07 p.m.: Baez strikes out swinging, but the ball gets away from Wieters (passed ball), who throws wild to first in an attempt to get Baez (E-2). The ball gets by everyone, goes into right field, and a run scores. Man, oh, man. That was ugly. 6-4 Cubs with runners at second and third. This inning has gone completely south after an easy first two outs for Scherzer. UPDATE, HOURS LATER: This became a controversial play. By rule, it seems, Baez should've been out because the bat struck Wieters on the follow-through and the ball is supposed to be dead. Inning should've been over. But apparently there are different interpretations, so stay tuned on this. Also, the play isn't reviewable, but probably will be in the future.

10:05 p.m.: Heyward gets two pitches (both balls), then is intentionally walked. The crowd's not buzzing so much anymore.

10:03 p.m. Russell hits one down the line for a two-run double. Cubs now lead 5-4. Wow. Here's what it looked like.

10:02 p.m.: Ben Zobrist, pinch-hitting for Almora Jr., bloops a single to let after a nice at-bat. Cubs with a low-key threat against Scherzer, who's making his first relief appearance in four years.

9:58 p.m.: Contreras reaches on an infield single to short. Turner had a long way to go to get it. Really had no shot at an out.

9:56 p.m.: Rizzo flies out to center. 

9:55 p.m.: Bryant grounds out to short.

Scherzer on to pitch (!!!) for the Nationals. Hold on to your butts.

*****

Bottom of the fourth (Nationals 4, Cubs 3)

9:51 p.m.: Zimmerman flies out to deep-ish left. Just got under it. Hendricks escapes the two-out threat.

9:49 p.m.: Harper follows with a missile up the middle. It seems like everything he hits has an exit velocity north of 6,000 mph. Nats looking to add on.

9:48 p.m.: Werth singles up the middle.

9:46 p.m.: Turner also goes down hacking. Hendricks has settled down nicely.

9:45 p.m.:  Victor Robles, pinch-hitting for Albers, strikes out swinging.

*****

Top of the fourth (Nationals 4, Cubs 3)

9:40 p.m.: Jon Jay pops out to Turner in shallow left. That inning was kinda ho-hum.

9:38 p.m.: Hendricks also grounds out to short, but credit for the out should go to Ryan Zimmerman, who scooped up a low throw at first to save Turner an error.

9:35 p.m.: Baez grounds out to short.

Max Scherzer looks to be getting his body loose in the bullpen. Definitely seems like he'll pitch tonight.

Matt Albers now pitching for Washington

*****

Bottom of the third (Nationals 4, Cubs 3)

9:31 p.m.: Taylor pops out to Rizzo in the middle of the infield. Inning over.

9:28 p.m.: Wieters lines a single into right, just over the head of Baez. Here comes Taylor again. The crowd is naturally expecting big things.

9:27 p.m.: Rendon flies out to center. This inning is the opposite of the last inning, excitement-wise.

9:25 p.m.: Murphy goes down swinging.

*****

Top of the third (Nationals 4, Cubs 3)

9:21 p.m.: Heyward chases a pitch off the plate and strikes out. Gio stops the bleeding, but the tone of the game has definitely changed.

9:20 p.m.: Uh, oh. Gonzalez uncorks a wild pitch to score Contreras from third. 4-3 Nats.

9:16 p.m.: Addison Russell grounds out to short, scoring Bryant from third. 4-2 Nats. Runners now at second and third with two outs for Heyward.

9:15 p.m.: Almora Jr. draws a walk on a check swing to load the bases. The Cubs really need to take advantage of this.

9:12 p.m.: Contreras walks. Runners at first and second with one out. Pitching coach Mike Maddux comes to give him a breather. Still, Cubs are threatening.

9:09 p.m.: Rizzo goes down looking on a pitch waaaay outside. Bad call from home plate ump Jerry Layne.

9:08 p.m.: Bryant leads off with a double just out of the reach of a diving Taylor in center.

*****

Bottom of the second (Nationals 4, Cubs 1)

9:04 p.m.: Zimmerman goes down swinging. The Nats batted around. Hendricks struck out the side, but he probably doesn't care about that right now.

9:02 p.m.: Harper is intentionally walked. Booo, goes the crowd. 

9:01 p.m.: Werth lines a double into the right-center gap. The Nats seem to have rediscovered their offense for real.

8:58 p.m.: Turner also goes down swining for the second out.

8:57 p.m.:  Gio Gonzalez strikes out. How dare he ruin the mood?

8:55 p.m.: Boom! Michael A. Taylor, he of Game 4's big grand slam, crushes a three-run homer into the Cubs' bullpen. I'm told his real name is Michael A. Tater. I'll allow it. Wow. 4-1 Nats. The place is rockin'.

8:52 p.m.: Matt Wieters lays down a surprise bunt single along the third-base line to beat the shift. 

8:50 p.m.: Anthony Rendon bloops a single to center. The crowd at Nats Park is wide awake now.

8:47 p.m.: Daniel Murphy launches a bomb into the right-field seats to tie the game. That was crushed. Murphy attacked that pitch like ...

*****

Top of the second (Cubs 1, Nationals 0)

8:44 p.m.: Jon Jay goes down looking on a wicked, knee-buckling curve from Gonzalez. Much better inning that time.

8:41 p.m.: Kyle Hendricks strikes out swinging.

8:40 p.m: Javy Baez flies out to shallow right.

*****

Bottom of the first (Cubs 1, Nationals 0)

8:36 p.m.: Ryan Zimmerman strikes out swinging to end the Nats' change. That inning is what we call a wasted opportunity.

8:33 p.m.: Harper grounds to Baez at second, and Baez throws home to nail Turner and keep the Nats off the board. Nice play. Two outs.

8:29 p.m.: Werth flies out to center on a sliding grab by Almora. Turner moves to third. Nats could tie this thing up quickly. Bryce Harper up. Cubs bring infield in.

8:28 p.m.: Turner steals second. Nats have a runner in scoring position with Jayson Werth at the plate. 

8:27 p.m.:  Trea Turner reaches on an infield ground that caught second baseman Javy Baez on the heel of the glove. Would've been a tough play.

Kyle Hendricks on the mound for the Cubs.

*****

Top of the first (Cubs 1, Nationals 0)

8:22 p.m.: Jason Heyward breaks his bat on a groundout to third to end the inning. Nationals have to be pleased with the outcome. Things could've been a lot worse.

8:21 p.m.: Addison Russell draws a walk to load the bases. Gonzalez has already thrown 24 pitches. Nats getting the bullpen up.

8:18 p.m.: Albert Almora Jr. singles to the opposite field, Contreras goes to third. Cubs are still threatening. Another run here could be huge.

8:17 p.m.: Willson Contreras walks with two outs.

8:15 p.m.: Anthony Rizzo grounds out to second (in shallow right, actually) to score Jay from third. Cubs up 1-0.

8:14 p.m.: Bryant strikes out swinging, his fifth straight strikeout. He's not looked good.

8:11 p.m.: A 50 Cent-esque wild pitch from Gio Gonzalez sends Jay to third with nobody out and Kris Bryant at the plate.

8:08 p.m.  Jon Jay leads off with a hustle double to right, just beating Bryce Harper's throw. Cubs aren't wasting any time. Nats challenge the call, but lose the challenge.

Geo Gonzalez on the mound for the Nationals.

(All times Eastern)

*****

Let's do this. Game 5 of the NLDS between the Cubs and Nationals from Washington. The winner advances to the NLCS to face the Dodgers. The loser goes home for the winter. 

The Cubs have a championship to defend, while the Nationals are looking for the franchise's first playoff series win since moving to Washington in 2005.

This will be one of those all-hands-on-deck games — everyone's available, so things could get interesting. I'll be your host tonight, giving you updates and commentary, along with some gifts to help keep things light.

If you want some light pre-game reading checking out this column I wrote today on the Expos' 1981 NLDS win and how hardly anyone seems to remember it. That series was the now-Washington franchise's first — and only, so far — postseason series win.

Let's have some fun.

Jason Foster

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Jason Foster joined The Sporting News in 2015 after stops at various news outlets where he held a variety of reporting and editing roles and covered just about every topic imaginable. He is a member of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America and a 1998 graduate of Appalachian State University.