Nats get rout after long delays

WASHINGTON— The start of Saturday’s rescheduled game between the Cubs and Nationals was delayed by 2 hours, 10 minutes due to inclementweather.

That came after Friday’s game was delayed twice first for 1 hour, 21 minutes, then, after they started playing, 2:55 more until the gamewas postponed.

The teams finally squared off after delays totaling 6 hours, 26 minutes. Itwas notworth thewait for the Cubs.

Any hope of getting a contribution from left-hander Jaime Garcia faded, as Garcia walked three and was pulled after Juan Soto was credited with a two-run single that skipped past the glove of first baseman Anthony Rizzo during a threerun first inning as theNationals cruised to a 10-3 win.

After allowing a double to Tommy La Stella with one out in the first, Nationals starter Max Scherzer (17-6) retired 15 consecutive batters en route to his 10th career complete game. Scherzer allowed nine hits but struck out 11 and walked none.

The Cubs broke through in the seventh on a single by catcherWillson Contreras.

But that came after the Nationals scored five times in the sixth off Randy Rosario and JamesNorwood.

Throwing errors by Contreras and second baseman Daniel Murphy resulted in three unearned runs.

Left fielder Terrance Gore hit a single up the middle in the ninth for his first major league hit after 4 ½ seasons and 15 plate appearances.