WASHINGTON -- After Jordan Zimmermann put the Washington Nationals in position to win on the mound, Denard Spans legs and Ryan Zimmermans bat made sure they beat the Chicago Cubs. Custom New York Mets Nike Jerseys . Zimmermans eighth inning single drove in Span for the go-ahead run as the surging Nationals capped a strong weekend with a 2-1 win over the Cubs on Sunday. The expected pitchers duel took place as Zimmermann outdueled Jake Arrieta over six innings and left with a 1-0 lead. "The starter for them today was as advertised, tough," Zimmerman said of Arrieta. "The way Jordan pitched, that was a game we needed to win." The Cubs tied it in the seventh on Starlin Castros sacrifice fly against Drew Storen. Spans hustle turned a soft hit to right field off Pedro Strop (1-4) into a double leading off the eighth. The Cubs challenged the play, but replay showed that the sliding Span avoided the tag. "The fact that he broke out of the box hard and thought two (bases) from the beginning of it was key for us," Nationals manager Matt Williams said. Two outs later, the Cubs intentionally walked Adam LaRoche to bring up Zimmerman, who ripped a single to left to score Span from second. Tyler Clippard (6-2) worked out of trouble in the eighth inning. Rafael Soriano pitched the ninth and earned his 21st save for the Nationals, who have won seven of eight. Washington moved within one-half game of NL East-leading Atlanta. The Nationals took two of three games in the series, including 13-0 on Saturday to break Chicagos four-game winning streak. Zimmermann allowed seven hits with one walk and struck out five. He has given up two earned runs or fewer in seven straight starts. The right-hander is 3-2 with a 1.26 ERA in that span. "I think he found his slider," Williams said. "Gives him another weapon." The Cubs had at least one hit in each of the first six innings, but couldnt generate a clutch one versus Zimmermann. Chicago left 12 runners on base and went 1 for 9 with runners in scoring position. "I fell behind hitters and wasnt able to throw first-pitch strikes," Zimmermann said. "Guys got on base, and I had to work out of a few jams. Other than that I threw the ball well." Following this weekends blockbuster trade that sent starters Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel to the Oakland As, Arrieta inherited the No. 1 role in the Cubs rotation. He has pitched to that level lately. The righty won his four previous starts and flirted with no-hitters in his last two. Arrieta carried a perfect game into the seventh inning on June 24 against Cincinnati and went 7 2-3 innings without allowing a hit at Boston on June 30. Washington ended such hopes immediately. Span hit a fly ball that sailed over the outfielders for a double leading off the first. One out later he scored on Jayson Werths groundout for a 1-0 lead. Arrieta allowed four hits and one run over six innings with three walks and five strikeouts. He gave up two singles to open the fifth, but escaped the jam. Zimmermann struck out while attempting to bunt the runner over. "It was a dogfight," Arrieta said. "I really had to grind it out there. I had guys on base. I had to make pitches in big situations. I was able to do that." Storen entered having allowed only three earned runs this season and only one in 17 appearances since May 17. The Cubs threatened in the eighth, putting runners at second and third with one out against Clippard, but didnt score. Pinch-hitter Wellington Castillo struck out looking, and Ryan Sweeney grounded out. Justin Ruggiano, Anthony Rizzo, and John Baker all had two hits for the Cubs. NOTES: The Cubs recalled RHP Blake Parker from Triple-A Iowa before the game. Parker takes the roster spot created by the trade with Oakland. ... Chicago hasnt announced who will replace Samardzija and Hammel when their rotation spots come up Wednesday and Thursday. Edwin Jackson (5-8, 4.99) will open the five-game series at Cincinnati on Monday against fellow RHP Mike Leake (6-7, 3.47). ... Nationals RHP Stephen Strasburg (7-6, 3.53) will face RHP Chris Tillman (7-4, 4.21) on Monday when Baltimore visits Washington. Custom Oakland Athletics Nike Jerseys . Ricciardos exclusion from the results tarnished what had been a day of celebration for local fans, who were jubilant that the Red Bull driver had apparently become the first Australian to finish on the podium at his home race. However just before midnight, stewards ruled that Ricciardos car had "exceeded consistently the maximum allowed fuel flow" and that the team refused an instruction from the races technical delegate Charlie Whiting to change the fuel-flow sensor before the race and a further request during the race to reduce the fuel flow. Custom Kansas City Royals Nike Jerseys . - Benched Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman said he has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and voluntarily entered the NFL substance abuse program more than a year ago after mistakenly taking a medication to treat the condition. https://www.custombaseballnikejerseys.com/?tag=custom-detroit-tigers-nike-jerseys . New York secured second place in the Metropolitan Division when the Philadelphia Flyers lost at Tampa Bay later Thursday. The Rangers will face either the Flyers or Columbus in the opening round of the post-season. The Rangers struggled throughout against the lowly Sabres and goalie Matt Hackett, who played in just his seventh NHL game of the season.MIAMI - The Toronto Raptors have been the toast of the NBA over the last 10 days. Theyve won five straight and grabbed a four-game lead in the Atlantic Division. Tonight, they face one of their toughest challenges yet as they face former teammate Chris Bosh and the Heat in Miami. You can see all the action on TSN beginning at 6pm et/3pm pt. Raptors head coach Dwane Casey announced before the game that Tyler Hansbrough will not play due to a left ankle sprain. Toronto began a three-game road trip with a 101-88 drubbing of the Washington Wizards. Things dont get easier for the Raptors because after Sundays tilt with the two-time defending champions, they visit the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday. DeMar DeRozan scored 20 points and Kyle Lowry had 19 points and 11 assists against the Wiz on Friday. Patrick Patterson added 18 points, Amir Johnson scored 17 and Terrence Jones notched 14 for the Raptors, who got their third straight win over the Wizards, but only their second in their last seven trips to Washington. They are 9-2 with a new-look roster after trading Rudy Gay and 7-1 in their last eight road games. "Winning is contagious, and were making winning plays. Its not about making extra passes," Lowry said. "Its about winning and how you win is by making extra passes, so everyone is maaking extra passes, so everybody wants to win. Custom New York Yankees Nike Jerseys. Its not the fancy passes." The Heat have won 13 straight against the Raptors, including two this season, both in Toronto. Miami has taken seven in a row in South Beach. After a 123-114 loss at home the Golden State Warriors on Thursday, the Heat trounced the Orlando Magic, 110-94 on the road Saturday night. LeBron James only shot 5-for-13 en route to 15 points as it was someone elses turn for the Heat. Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade scored 20 points apiece for Miami, which has won three of four and nine of its last 11. Bosh shot 9-of-9 from the field as the Heat won their 22nd straight game against the Southeast Division. "CB is our rock," praised Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra. "Hes doing it on both ends. Hes a true two-way player. Hes dynamic, hes unique." Rashard Lewis made his second start of the season for an injured Shane Battier and donated 18 points. James 15-point output was a season low, but he chipped in eight rebounds and eight assists. "Tonight was one of those games where I didnt have to put too much pressure on scoring," said James. "I just tried to get my guys involved, tried to get some rebounds." The Heat host New Orleans on Tuesday, then hit the road for six straight. ' ' '