Happ's 4 RBIs pace Cubs in 7-1 win at Washington

Ian Happ homered and drove in four runs on three hits, Pete Crow-Armstrong added his team-leading 16th home run and Chicago Cubs beat the Washington Nationals 7-1 on Thursday night to earn their seventh consecutive series victory.

Colin Rea (4-2) allowed five hits over 5 1/3 scoreless innings after opener Drew Pomeranz completed a clean first as the Cubs won the rubber game and their 16th of their last 21 games overall.

Washington’s Jake Irvin (5-2) allowed three runs over five innings, including Crow-Armstrong’s two-run shot in the first and Happ’s run-scoring double — good for his 500th career RBI — in the second.

Including Rea, the Cubs bullpen allowed no earned runs in 12 1/3 innings in the series. Chicago’s bullpen ERA is 0.74 over its last 19 games.

Theh Cubs haven’t named their Friday starter yet, but will open their series in Detroit against reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubel, who has pitched 16 consecutive scoreless innings in his last two starts.



(AP Photo Jess Rapfogel)