Cubs Win in Extras Over Nationals

David Bote did it again--even if he didn't exactly know what happened.

Bote doubled to the right centerfield gap to drive in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning and later scored an insurance run as the Cubs continued their long road trip with a gritty 6-4 victory over the Nationals on Thursday in Washington.

Mired in a 2-for-24 slump, Bote drove another stake into the heart of Washington, this time by hammering a 100.3 MPH fastball from Nationals reliever Jimmy Cordero just past the outstretched glove of center fielder Victor Robles to score Albert Almora, Jr., who had doubled with one out.

But Bote initially wasn't sure of his heroics.

"I actually didn't see where it went at first--you can kind of see me looking around," Bote said with a laugh. "I didn't know where it went and then I heard the dugout kind of screaming, and I'm like, 'Oh, it's gotta be somewhere good.' I was trying to find out and saw them running."

It was Bote's second big hit against Washington, as he blasted a walk-off grand slam against the Nationals on August 12 at Wrigley Field--a fact that wasn't lost on the crowd at Nationals Park.

The Cubs expanded their National Central lead to 4-1/2 games over Milwaukee and five games over the Cardinals.