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)

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Mark Stone had a goal and two assists and the Vegas Golden Knights beat the Seattle Kraken 6-2 on Saturday night.

After falling behind 1-0 less than three minutes into the game, the Golden Knights scored three unanswered goals in the first period and never relinquished the lead.

After Keegan Kolesar tied the game at 1-all, Brett Howden took Jack Eichel’s pass from behind the net and beat Philipp Grubauer at the doorstep to give Vegas a one-goal edge. Nic Hague's goal later in the period put Vegas up, 3-1.

William Karlsson and Noah Hanifin also added goals in the third and Ilya Samsonov stopped 21 shots to improve to 8-3-1. Eichel finished with two assists.

Vince Dunn and Jaden Schwartz scored for Seattle while Grubauer made 29 saves and fell to 3-10-0.

Kraken: Center Chandler Stephenson made his first return to Vegas since signing with Seattle as a free agent during the offseason. Stephenson is the only NHL player to hoist the Stanley Cup twice in Vegas, winning inside T-Mobile Arena with Washington in 2018, and again with the Knights in 2023.

Golden Knights: Vegas has won three straight and seven of eight in December. With the win, the Knights (47) are now four points in front of Los Angeles (43) in the Pacific Division and two points shy of Western Conference-leading Winnipeg (49).

Trailing 1-0, Kolesar took a cross-ice pass from Victor Olofsson that led him perfectly on a breakaway. Kolesar’s snipe over Grubauer’s glove gave him his career-high eighth goal of the season.

Seattle is now 1-17-1 when trailing after two periods while Vegas improved to 12-1-0 when leading after the first 40 minutes.

The Knights host the Anaheim Ducks on Monday night. The Kraken visit the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/NHL

Vegas Golden Knights centers Brett Howden (21) and Jack Eichel (9) celebrate after Howden's goal against the Seattle Kraken during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)

Seattle Kraken center Yanni Gourde (37) and Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Noah Hanifin (15) battle for the puck during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Keegan Kolesar (55) and right wing Cole Schwindt (22) celebrate after Kolesar's goal against the Seattle Kraken during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Seattle Kraken center Yanni Gourde shoots against Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Brayden McNabb (3) during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Seattle Kraken center Chandler Stephenson (9) shoots against Vegas Golden Knights goaltender Ilya Samsonov (35) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Vegas Golden Knights right wing Keegan Kolesar (55) celebrates after scoring a goal against the Seattle Kraken during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024, in Las Vegas. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)