Nationals Pummel Cubs at Wrigley, Wiemer and House Go Deep

The Washington Nationals came to Wrigley Field on Thursday and reminded the Chicago Cubs exactly why you don’t sleepwalk through the opening week of the season. Behind a barrage of timely hitting and smart base running, the Nationals dismantled the Cubs 10-4 in a game that was effectively decided by the fourth inning. This wasn’t a Close contest. This was a mugging.

Matthew Boyd’s Opening Day start was an absolute disaster. The Cubs pitcher lasted just 3.2 innings, surrendering six earned runs on six hits while managing only one strikeout against one walk. Sure, he struck out seven total, but that stat line is misleading garbage when you’re getting shelled this early. The Nationals’ lineup was patient, aggressive when they needed to be, and relentless. Boyd never found a rhythm, never located his secondary stuff, and never gave his team a chance to stay in this game.

Jacob Young was the star turn, belting a two-run homer in the fourth inning that broke this thing wide open. Joey Wiemer led off with a solo shot in the second and went 3-for-3 overall, a ridiculous performance that should have opposing pitchers losing sleep. Brady House added a two-run blast of his own in the ninth and finished 2-for-5 with two RBIs, proving he belongs in this Nationals lineup. This wasn’t one guy carrying the load. This was a complete offensive performance.

The fourth inning was particularly brutal for the Cubs. CJ Abrams ripped a two-run single, Daylen Lile drove in a run with a line drive to right, and by the time Young connected, Chicago was already down 6-2. Brad Lord, the Nationals’ winning pitcher, only threw 2.1 innings but surrendered just one run, and he got credited with the win because this game was never close enough for the Cubs to threaten a comeback.

Cubs’ Offensive Contributions Fall Short

To the Cubs’ credit, they weren’t completely helpless. Michael Busch went 3-for-4 with an RBI and looked solid at the plate. Pete Crow-Armstrong contributed an RBI bunt single in the seventh, showing some creative baserunning. Dansby Swanson drove in Nico Hoerner with a groundout in the fourth. The problem, though, was that none of this mattered when you’re trailing by multiple runs early and your starting pitcher is getting shelled.

Opening Day Ugliness at Wrigley

This was Opening Day theater, the kind of early-season statement that echoes through a clubhouse for weeks. The Nationals came into Wrigley with purpose and execution, while the Cubs looked unprepared and uninspired. Craig Counsell will have some uncomfortable conversations with Matthew Boyd about this performance, and rightfully so. You cannot afford to get worked like this in late March when every game carries weight toward the playoff race.

Washington’s depth, their willingness to string together quality at-bats, and their ability to capitalize on mistakes made the difference here. The Cubs had opportunities. They simply couldn’t execute when it mattered, and that’s a recipe for losing ballgames. This 10-4 defeat stings early in the season, and it should.