Cubs @ Expos - 5/13

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05/11/2005 7:49 PM ET
Cubs journey to nation's capital
Chicago (15-18) at Washington (18-15), 6:05 p.m. CT
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com

The Chicago Cubs are going to Washington.

The Cubs face the Washington Nationals -- formerly known as the Montreal Expos -- in their new home beginning Friday. Glendon Rusch, Carlos Zambrano and Greg Maddux are scheduled to pitch in the three-game series at RFK Stadium.

The Cubs enter with a two-game winning streak after taking the series against the New York Mets. Derrek Lee is en fuego, hitting in 26 of his last 28 games, and going 40-for-100 in that stretch.

This will be the Cubs' first game in D.C. since Aug. 10, 1899. Here's a little history: Washington, D.C., was represented by two early National League franchises in addition to two American League clubs. The first NL franchise operated from 1886-1889, while the second played from 1892-1899.

The Cubs played their first regular-season game in Washington, D.C., on May 27, 1886, and lost, 7-0. Baseball historian Ed Hartig dug up some other Cubs-related Washington baseball facts:

May 28, 1886: The Cubs recorded their first win in DC and recorded the most lopsided shutout win in franchise history with a 20-0 victory.

Aug. 25, 1894: Prior to a game in D.C., Cubs catcher "Pop" Schriver became the first player to catch a ball thrown from the top of the Washington Monument. Schriver succeeded on his second attempt, and caught pitcher Clark Griffith's toss from 500 feet above. The Cubs then lost to Washington, 9-4. Schriver went 2-for-3.

According to The Washington Post on Aug. 26, 1894, several players had unsuccessfully attempted the stunt prior to Schriver. It was assumed that it could not be done. According to the Post: "In the first place, the height was too great to see the descending sphere, and even if the eye glimpsed it coming through the ether, the tremendous force with which it would strike the outstretched hands would break every bone in every finger, and relegate the rash catcher who essayed the feat from the ball field forever."

Despite that, Chicago manager Cap Anson thought it could be done and was successful in convincing Schriver to give it a try. Schriver let the first ball drop without trying to catch it to see how high the ball would bounce after impact. Seeing that the ball bounced and didn't make a hole, as many suspected, Schriver signaled for a second toss and caught it -- to the applause of several spectators.

They didn't try a third time because Monument police put an end to the exhibition and threatened to arrest the Chicago personnel.

Did you know: Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium, originally known as D.C. Stadium, is the second-oldest ballpark in the National League. The stadium opened on Oct. 1, 1961, for the NFL Washington Redskins and hosted its first baseball game on April 9, 1962 -- one day before Dodger Stadium opened.

Did you know, Part II: Both Washington American League franchises played in Griffith Stadium. The first franchise used the park from 1903-1960 and the second played there in 1961 before moving to RFK (then D.C. Stadium) in 1962. Clark Griffith was a player, manager and owner for the Senators between 1912 and 1955. He also spent eight years with the Cubs (1893-1900) before jumping to the White Sox for the American League's innaugural season in 1901. Griffith won 20 games for the Cubs six consecutive seasons -- 1894-1899.

The only other Cubs player to have a Major League stadium named after him was Hi Bithorn (Hiram Bithorn Stadium in Puerto Rico).

Pitching matchup
CHC: LHP Glendon Rusch
• 2-1, 2.70 ERA in 2005
• 5-1, 3.02 ERA in career vs. Expos/Nationals

WAS: RHP Esteban Loaiza
• 1-2, 3.69 ERA in 2005
• 1-1, 6.00 ERA in 2004 vs. CHC

Player to watch
Jason Dubois will be getting more playing time -- plus he's going to have a lot of family and friends in the stands. Dubois is batting .256 this season.

Quotable
"Very few teams are in a dealing mood right now." -- Cubs manager Dusty Baker, when asked if the team was trying to swing a deal for more bullpen help

On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio
• Gameday
• Official game notes

On television
• WAS: MASN, WDCA
• CHC: WGN

On radio
• WAS: Z104 FM
• CHC: WGN 720 AM

Quick hits
Last year, the Cubs were 3-3 against the Nationals, then known as the Expos. ... Michael Barrett is 2-for-7 against Loaiza, Jeromy Burnitz is 2-for-6, Jerry Hairston 5-for-23, Todd Hollandsworth 1-for-8, Derrek Lee 3-for-10, Corey Patterson 2-for-10 and Aramis Ramirez 4-for-5. ... Lee's walk-off homer on Wednesday was the Cubs' second this year. Patterson also did so April 27, against Cincinnati. ... If the Cubs stay with their four-man rotation, Carlos Zambrano, Greg Maddux and Mark Prior will start against the White Sox, May 20-22 at Wrigley Field.

On deck
• Saturday: at Washington, 6:05 p.m. CT
• Sunday: at Washington, 12:05 p.m. CT
• Monday: Off
• Tuesday: at Pittsburgh, 6:05 p.m. CT
• Wednesday: at Pittsburgh, 11:35 a.m. CT

Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
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Ramirez's blast fuels Cubs past Nats
Third baseman's seventh homer breaks late deadlock
By Carrie Muskat / MLB.com

WASHINGTON -- Aramis Ramirez belted a tie-breaking home run leading off the eighth inning and the Chicago Cubs took advantage of two errors to post a 6-3 victory on Friday night over the Washington Nationals.

Ramirez connected on a 2-2 pitch from reliever Luis Ayala (2-2), who started the inning in place of Esteban Loaiza. Will Ohman (1-0) picked up the win in relief in front of 36,585 at RFK Stadium.

After Ramirez's home run, his seventh, Jeromy Burnitz doubled. One out later, Jason Dubois was hit on the back by a pitch. Burnitz then broke for home during Jerry Hairston's at-bat, and scored on an error by catcher Gary Bennett, who couldn't get a glove on a relay throw from third baseman Vinny Castilla in a rundown.

Pitcher Chad Cordero then fielded Corey Patterson's single but overthrew first for an error, allowing two runs to score to give the Cubs a 6-2 cushion.

The Nationals had taken a 1-0 lead in the second on Bennett's RBI single. With two out in the Cubs' fourth, Michael Barrett and Dubois each hit RBI singles to move ahead, 2-1.

Glendon Rusch, making his second start, gave up a single to Jose Guillen and walked Castilla to start the Nationals' sixth before being pulled. Pinch-hitter Ryan Church greeted LaTroy Hawkins with an RBI single to tie the game at 2.

It's been a rough May for Hawkins, whom Cubs manager Dusty Baker wanted to put in non-pressure situations to help him get his confidence back. In four games this month, teams are batting .438 (7-for-16) against Hawkins.

Carrie Muskat is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

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THREE IN A ROW. WOOHOO.
It's kinda sad to celebrate 3 wins in a row, but with the season we are having, it is great. First time we have a chance to win 4 straight.

It's been a rough May for Hawkins, whom Cubs manager Dusty Baker wanted to put in non-pressure situations to help him get his confidence back. In four games this month, teams are batting .438 (7-for-16) against Hawkins.

No, LaTroy is having a horrible season. I feel bad for him. He was a good set up man, and he was forced into a role he's bad at, now he can't even step up to the mound without his live being dangered. Poor Hawkins. I hope he will do better.

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My mistake, they are the Nationals now, not the Expos.