Cubs stave off elimination, beat Nationals 3-1 behind Taillon and Swanson

CHICAGO (AP) — Jameson Taillon allowed two hits over six innings, Dansby Swanson hit his 16th home run and the Chicago Cubs beat the Washington Nationals 3-1 on Friday to stave off elimination from postseason contention.

Pinch-hitter Mike Tauchman had a two-run single in the seventh for the Cubs (79-75), who have eight games left and closed within six games for the last NL wild card.

“We got a big swing from Dansby early in the game and props to Mike Tauchman, as well,” Chicago manager Craig Counsell said. “He's delivering very good at-bats from a pinch-hitting role.”

Washington has lost five straight games.

Taillon (11-8) struck out four, walked two and hit a batter, improving to 3-0 with a 1.99 ERA in his last five starts. He stranded the bases loaded in the third when José Tena lined out, and Taillion retired his last 10 batters.

“It was a really good effort," Counsell said. "It was crafty the way he pitched. ... His cutter to the backside, he had a lot of lefties in the lineup obviously, and his cutter to that side of the plate was really good.”

Tyson Miller retired Dylan Crews on a bases-loaded grounder in the seventh and gave up an eighth-inning homer to James Wood. Porter Hodge pitched a perfect ninth for his seventh save, finishing a five-hitter.

Trevor Williams (5-1), returning from a right flexor muscle strain that had sidelined him since May 30, allowed one run and three hits in five innings.

“Everything felt real good, take away one pitch from this outing,” Williams said. “I'm just thankful that I was be out there and give the team a chance to win."

Taillon enjoyed locking up with in a pitcher's duel with Williams, a Pittsburgh teammate for four seasons.

“We've stayed in touch really well over the years,” Taillon said. “Cool seeing him back out there healthy. I know fans probably want offense, but for me, selfishly, that's a lot of fun.”

Swanson homered into the left-center bleachers off Williams in the first inning.

Cubs first baseman Michael Busch dove over the tarp and stretched into the protective netting to catch Teña’s foul pop foul for the second out in the eighth.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Nationals: RHP Zach Brzykcy was optioned to Triple-A Rochester and transferred RHP Joan Adon to the 60-day injured list.

Cubs: OF Seiya Suzuki appeared to injure his hand stealing second in the eighth. Counsell didn't have an update, but suggested it wasn't serious. ... LHP Jordan Wicks was placed on the 15-day IL with a right oblique strain retroactive to Wednesday and recalled RHP Trey Wingenter from Triple-A Iowa. Wicks had been activated from a 60-day IL on Sept. 1 following an oblique strain and was 1-2 with a 7.50 ERA in four starts. … RHP Hayden Wesneski was activated from the 15-day IL (right forearm strain) and RHP Shawn Armstrong was designated for assignment.

UP NEXT

Washington LHP MacKenzie Gore (9-12, 4.17) faces Chicago RHP Kyle Hendricks (4-11, 6.25) on Saturday.

AP MLB: https://www.apnews.com/hub/MLB

A member off the Chicago Cubs medical staff examines Seiya Suzuki's right hand and wrist after Suzuki was hit by Washington Nationals catcher Drew Millas' throw to second as Suzuki stole the base during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs Seiya Suzuki sits on the ground after being hit by Washington Nationals catcher Drew Millas' throw to second as Suzuki stole the base during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs Seiya Suzuki lays in the ground after being hit by Washington Nationals catcher Drew Millas' throw to second as Suzuki stole the base during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs Seiya Suzuki lays in the ground after being hit by Washington Nationals catcher Drew Millas' throw to second as Suzuki stole the base during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs Seiya Suzuki lays in the ground after being hit by Washington Nationals catcher Drew Millas' throw to second as Suzuki stole the base during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs Seiya Suzuki lays in the ground after being hit by Washington Nationals catcher Drew Millas' throw to second as Suzuki stole the base during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Jameson Taillon winds up during the first inning of a baseball game against the Washington Nationals on Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs' Dansby Swanson celebrates his home run off Washington Nationals starting pitcher Trevor Williams with third base coach Willie Harris, during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Chicago Cubs' Dansby Swanson celebrates his home run off Washington Nationals starting pitcher Trevor Williams during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Dodgers are headed to their 12th consecutive postseason appearance while All-Star pitcher Tyler Glasnow tries to figure out another elbow injury that ended his first season in Los Angeles.

The 31-year-old right-hander said Friday that his elbow sprain didn’t require any further testing and he’s confident he won’t need surgery.

“It’s extremely frustrating,” Glasnow said. “I wanted to come here to win a World Series and pitch in the postseason.”

He went on the injured list Aug. 16 with elbow tendinitis. Glasnow was working his way back when he threw only a few warmup pitches in a simulated game in Atlanta last week before “something was just not right in my arm” and shut it down.

“Just knew it would have been dumb to keep throwing on it,” he said.

Glasnow had Tommy John surgery in 2022 and then made 21 starts and pitched 120 innings last year with the Tampa Bay Rays.

This season, he bettered those marks with career highs of 22 starts and 134 innings pitched before making his final start on Aug. 11. He had 11.3 strikeouts per nine innings.

Glasnow said his delivery mechanics are sound. But the 6-foot-8-inch pitcher believes his long extension puts a lot of stress on the arm.

“I’m just trying to figure out something to get my arm to a good spot to try and relieve some of the tension in my elbow,” he said. "I guess I’m just trying to figure all that out and implement it through the offseason and next season.”

AP MLB: https://www.apnews.com/hub/MLB

FILE - Los Angeles Dodgers' Tyler Glasnow delivers to the plate against the Pittsburgh Pirates during a baseball game Aug. 11, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jayne-Kamin-Oncea, File)