Nationals 7, Cubs 4: Washington struck in the late innings for the second time in two games at Wrigley Field, torching Chicago's bullpen in a five-run eighth for its second consecutive victory.

Chad Tracy's pinch-hit single to right scored Ryan Zimmerman and Adam LaRoche with the tying and go-ahead runs off Chicago closer Carlos Marmol, giving Washington a 5-4 lead.

Marmol came on after Kerry Wood (0-1) gave up three straight hits, including Danny Espinosa’s solo homer that brought the Nationals within 4-3.

Roger Bernadina's single scored Jayson Werth to make it 6-4, and Stephen Lombardozzi's infield single plated Brett Carroll to close the scoring. Wood gave up three hits and three runs while Marmol allowed two hits, two runs and two walks.

The Cubs, who gave up the go-ahead run in the ninth inning of Thursday’s season-opening loss, took a 4-1 lead with three runs in the fourth inning off Gio Gonzalez. Reed Johnson tripled home Geovany Soto and Marlon Byrd with two outs, and scored on Joe Mather’s single.

Gonzalez lasted just 3 2/3 innings, giving up seven hits and four runs. His wild pitch in the first inning scored Mather with the game’s first run.

Washington took a 2-1 lead on LaRoche’s two-run homer off Matt Garza in the top of the fourth. Garza gave up five hits and two runs in six innings, striking out five.

LaRoche finished with four hits, two runs scored and two RBIs for Washington. Ryan Mattheus (1-0) pitched a scoreless inning for the win and Henry Rodriguez struck out the side in the ninth for his first save.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Washington scored all five runs in the eighth with two outs. ... SS Starlin Castro finished with two hits and two stolen bases for Chicago. ... Gonzalez struck out six in his NL debut. … Cubs first baseman Bryan LaHair, who has missed the past week with back tightness, appeared as a pinch hitter and expects to play in Sunday’s series finale.