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Four innings into their game against the Cubs on Thursday night, the Nationals looked all but guaranteed an easy win, a chance to rest their bullpen, a four-game sweep of the Cubs and a record three games above the .500 mark heading into the final weekend before the All-Star break.
Instead, they wound up with what might be their biggest gut-punch loss of the season.
They squandered an eight-run lead in two innings, fell behind the Cubs in the eighth inning, came back to tie the game only to give up another run in the ninth and lost 10-9 to Chicago.
The Nationals got the tying run to third with one out in the ninth, but Matt Stairs popped up to third base and Roger Bernadina flew out to right to end the game.
With the loss, the Nationals fell back to one game above .500. They'll try to rebound tomorrow against the Rockies.
More from the clubhouse in a little bit.
