Nats’ Win Over Cubs Gives Washington Its 1st Winning Year

September 3, 2012 12:00 AM " WASHINGTON (AP) - Ross Detwiler allowed four hits in seven shutout innings and Adam LaRoche homered Monday, giving the Washington Nationals their first winning season with a 2-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

The NL East-leading Nationals improved to 82-52. The club moved from Montreal to Washington for the 2005 season and went 81-81 that year. In 2008 and 2009, the team lost a combined 205 games, then finished 80-81 in 2011.

The Nationals’ win allowed them to hold their 6 1/2-game division lead over Atlanta.

Detwiler (9-6) struck out three and walked three, and allowed a runner to third only once.

Jeff Samardzija (8-13) gave up a long home run to LaRoche to lead off the second. LaRoche’s 25th home run landed in the front row of the second deck. It’s the fourth time in his career LaRoche has hit 25 or more home runs.

Ryan Zimmerman’s RBI double scored Bryce Harper in the eighth for the second run. "

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