Cubs swat Nats as Zobrist’s bat logs 4 RBIs

CHICAGO — Ben Zobrist smacked a two-run single in the fourth inning and a two-run homer in the eighth to lift the Cubs to a 5-2 victory over the Nationals on Thursday night in a battle between first-place teams.

Right-hander Kyle Hendricks held Washington to two hits over six scoreless frames for the win. The Cubs improved to 21-6, their best start through 27 games since the 1907 team went 23-4.

Nats starter Joe Ross took the loss, giving up two runs over 6 2/3 innings. He’d given up two runs over 22 2/3 innings in his four previous starts combined. Jayson Werth launched a two-run homer — his sixth jack of the season — off Cubs reliever Travis Wood in the ninth to break up the shutout. Closer Hector Rondon came on and got Wilson Ramos to line out to end the game.

In the showdown between Las Vegas buddies Kris Bryant and Bryce Harper, the Cubs’ right fielder went 1-for-4 with a double while Harper hit a single, drew three walks and was picked off at first.

Thursday was the first time four first-place teams played in the same city on the same day. Besides the Cubs-Nats game at Wrigley Field, the White Sox entertained the Red Sox eight miles away at U.S. Cellular Field.

MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDHide and seek: The ivy at Wrigley Field isn’t quite green, but it’s thick enough to hide a baseball. Tommy La Stella singled to open the Chicago fourth and Bryant then lofted a ball to center that sank into the ivy covering the outfield wall. Nationals center fielder Michael Taylor couldn’t find it, and signaled by holding up both of his arms. …

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