The Cubs escaped with a 5-4 win over the Nationals in the opener of a four-game series in Washington. Willson Contreras led off the game with a homer for Chicago, which survived Washington's four-run rally in the ninth. Eddie Butler tossed five shutout innings to improve to 4-and-2.
Stephen Drew doubled in two in the ninth for the Nats. Gio Gonzalez fell to 7-and-2 despite allowing only a run and two hits during his six-inning start.
game 2 of the 4-game series is tonight in Washington.