Justin Ruggiano connected for a long ball for the second straight game as the Chicago Cubs routed the Washington Nationals 7-2 from the Nation's Capital on Independence Day. Ruggiano went 3-for-5 at the dish, which gives him six hits and seven RBIs in his last two games. Jason Hammel was quality over six frames to improve 8-and-5, and give the Cubs their fourth-straight victory. Nationals starter Tanner Roark fell to 7-and-6 after surrendering four runs in seven innings. Jayson Werth went 2-for-3 and cracked his eighth homer of the season as the Nats five-game win streak comes to an end.
The Oakland Athletics have reportedly bolstered their starting rotation
with the acquisition of pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel from the
Chicago Cubs. According to multiple sources, the A's have acquired
Samardzija and Hammel in exchange for minor-league shortstop Addison
Russell, minor-league outfielder Billy McKinney and pitcher Dan Straily.
Samardzija has pitched well for the Cubs this season, but has been a victim of
poor run support. The right-hander owns a 2-7 record with a 2.83 ERA and 103
strikeouts over 108 innings pitched. Chicago has been shut out five times
over his 17 starts this season and it has scored two runs or less in 11 of
those outings. Hammel has also been solid, compiling an 8-5 mark with a
2.98 ERA. The 31-year-old will head back to the American League after
spending the previous two seasons with the Baltimore Orioles.