Josh Bell and Luis Garcia homered and the Washington Nationals began a new era with a 4-3 win over the visiting Chicago Cubs on Friday night.
Sergio Alcantara and Rafael Ortega had two hits each for the Cubs, who have lost four straight.
Washington starter Paolo Espino (3-2) allowed a run on four hits over 5 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out six. Kyle Finnegan pitched the ninth for his second save.
Jake Arrieta (5-10) made the start for the Cubs. He gave up two runs on six hits over four innings, with a walk and three strikeouts.
Both teams entered Friday night with their rosters dramatically altered ahead of the MLB trade deadline.
Beginning Thursday, the Nationals traded pitchers Max Scherzer, Daniel Hudson, Brad Hand and Jon Lester, shortstop Trea Turner, infielder Josh Harrison and catcher Yan Gomes in a series of transactions for prospects.
Leaving the Cubs over the past two days were first baseman Anthony Rizzo, pitchers Craig Kimbrel, Ryan Tepera and Trevor Williams, shortstop Javier Baez, third baseman Kris Bryant and outfielder Jake Marisnick.
With the Cubs trailing 4-1 in the eighth, Ortega singled with one out. Reliever Gabe Klobosits came on and made his Major League debut. Wilson Contreras greeted him with a double and, with two outs, Patrick Wisdom grounded a two-run single to left, pulling the Cubs within 4-3.
Garcia gave the Nationals a 1-0 lead with his first homer of the season in the bottom of the second.
Alcantara doubled leading off the third for Chicago and scored on a double by Ortega.
Andrew Stevenson doubled leading off the Washington third. Alcides Escobar bunted and Arrieta threw wide to first, allowing Stevenson to score.
Adam Morgan replaced Arrieta in the fifth and, with two outs and no one on, Bell connected with a 1-2 slider for his 17th homer of the season.
In the sixth, Carter Kieboom walked and Yadiel Hernandez doubled off the wall in center to make it 4-1.
–Field Level Media