Chicago Cubs make it three-straight NLCS appearances with Game 5 win

In a winner-take-all Game 5, the Chicago Cubs held off the Washington Nationals, advancing to a third-straight National League Championship Series.

All hands on-deck. The Chicago Cubs rallied and then held off the Washington Nationals for a 9-8 win, setting up a rematch in the NLCS with the Los Angeles Dodgers – with Game 1 Saturday night at Chavez Ravine.

The game, which spanned more than four-and-a-half hours, wasn’t pretty. It was exciting, sure. But it was not a well-played ballgame. Before you delve into the nitty-gritty, you have to tip your hat to closer Wade Davis.

Never before in his career did Davis nail down a save spanning more than three outs. But he did just that on Thursday night. He came on in the bottom of the seventh, recording seven outs – including a game-ending strikeout of Nationals star Bryce Harper.

There are no words to sum up just how clutch Davis’ performance was for Chicago. Throw in a back-throw pickoff from Willson Contreras in the eighth and you have yourself a tenth-straight elimination loss for Dusty Baker clubs.

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After Chicago got a run off Gio Gonzalez

In the fifth, Max Scherzer took the hill. With two men on and two away, a dropped third strike allowed Javier Baez to reach first and a run to score. A catcher’s interference and hit-by-pitch added to the four-run frame for the Cubs, who took a 7-4 lead after five.

But this game as far from done.

Chicago added another run in the top of the sixth when Jayson Werth flat-out missed a catch on an Addison Russell two-bagger. But Washington answered back via a bases-loaded walk and Daniel Murphy double, pulling within two at 8-6.

In the top of the seventh, with men at first and third, Kris Bryant grounded to third. Kyle Schwarber scored from third after a review ruled that Jon Jay‘s slide into second was not illegal, pushing the Chicago edge back to three runs.

The Nationals scored runs in both the seventh and eighth – the latter of which ended via the inning-ending snap throw from Contreras. Davis finished things off in the ninth to seal the deal.

It seemed like forever ago – but Kyle Hendricks squared off against Gonzalez. On the night, Hendricks struggled through four innings of four-run, nine-hit ball. He located everything up in the zone consistently and it cost him dearly.

The Nationals took the lead right back in the second – thanks to home runs from Daniel Murphy and Michael A. Taylor. Each team used seven pitchers in the deciding contest – with Scherzer being saddled with a loss.

Next: Rizzo leads team to historic third-straight NLCS

What’s Next

Chicago opens the National League Championship Series on Saturday in Chavez Ravine against the Dodgers.

Projected starters – Jose Quintana takes the ball for the Cubs and Clayton Kershaw opposite him for Los Angeles.