WASHINGTON — Alex Bregman’s first two plate appearances Tuesday night represented how tough the Chicago Cubs made it on Washington Nationals starter Jake Irvin.
Bregman forced Irvin to throw 10 pitches both times he faced the right-hander, ultimately drawing a walk after falling behind 0-2 in their first matchup and coming around to score to get the Cubs on the board. By the end of the third inning, the Cubs already had forced Irvin to throw 75 pitches, and they knocked him out of the game in the fourth with his pitch count nearing 90.
The Cubs’ patience paid off against Irvin (five runs) and Washington’s bullpen in their 8-6 win at Nationals Park. The victory moved the Cubs 20 games above .500 (70-50) for the first time this season.
“It was a real example of the strength of our offense and what our offense can do to a pitcher,” manager Craig Counsell said. “That’s our offense at its best really. We didn’t maybe put up the big number that they’ll get the big hit — the home run with men on base or the double with men on base — (but) those first five innings we made it really hard on them every single inning.”
Pete Crow-Armstrong’s nine-pitch battle in the third ended with a 437-foot, 111.5 mph home run off the facade of the third deck for his 27th of the year. Seiya Suzuki worked Irvin for a nine-pitch at-bat in the first, and the Cubs collectively forced a 31-pitch second.
Suzuki went on to double and homer in the win, while Bregman credited his two-hit day, including a home run, to adjustments he made while recently working with assistant director of major-league development Ben Martin.
Bregman’s and Martin’s work together focused Tuesday on getting his shoulders and hips better aligned. Bregman explained that for most of the season, his shoulders have been closed within his movement while his hips were open.
“Those first two at-bats were kind of just feeling through the new adjustment,” Bregman said. “I was loading a little quick my first two at-bats, and then I kind of slowed it down after that and felt better.
“Another step in the right direction. I feel better, just working at it. Better results, obviously.”
Right-hander Jacob Webb continued to deal for the Cubs, recording a four-out save. He entered with runners on first and second in the eighth and escaped on José Tena’s ball back at him, then returned to finish it off in the ninth for his eighth save. Webb has recorded 20 consecutive scoreless appearances.
“He’s been nails for sure, and those four-out saves are tough,” Counsell said. “That’s a well-earned save, and Jacob’s doing a heck of a job.”
The Cubs survived left-hander Shota Imanaga not being at his best, particularly early in his outing.
Imanaga surrendered four runs, including three home runs, and couldn’t get out of the fifth inning. It marked the fifth outing this season he has given up at least three home runs in a start. The home runs could have been more damaging if not for Imanaga not walking a batter for only the fifth time in 24 starts.
Imanaga believes some of the home run problems stem from being predictable in certain counts combined with poor command.
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“My command and how my body was moving, it was more in sync as the game went on,” he said through interpreter Edwin Stanberry. “But early on, the first three innings, it was out of sync, and I felt like I couldn’t make the adjustment as fast as I wanted to.”