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. 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. Matt Martin Jersey . Redden played a total of 1,023 regular-season games with Ottawa, the New York Rangers, St. Louis and Boston. He finished with 457 points (109 goals, 348 assists) and a plus-160 rating over his career. Pat LaFontaine Jersey .2 million in 2012, according to tax returns the league has submitted. http://www.islanderssale.com/authentic-c...landers-jersey/. -- Adrian Peterson remained in a walking boot to treat a high ankle sprain on his left leg on Wednesday, and coach Leslie Frazier said he will not play on Sunday against Atlanta if he cant hit the practice field in the next two days. Billy Smith Jersey .Y. - Everyone expected Clayton Kershaw to pitch a shutout, and he did — a unanimous choice for the NL Cy Young Award. Mike Bossy Jersey . The incident occurred at 6:28 of the first period in Anaheims 6-3 home win over Dallas on Sunday. Garbutt left the penalty box and skated at Penner before leaving his skates to deliver a check.TORONTO — Zach Fucale will have a shot at redemption when he starts in Sundays semifinal game against Slovakia at the world junior hockey championship.Fucale was the starter a year ago when Canada lost 5-1 in the semifinals against Finland.Last year, we learned a lot from it, Fucale said Saturday. We thought we were there and we werent. It hit us hard and it was a hard thing to go through. It helped us out. A lot of us have lived that.The 19-year-old was 2-2 with a 2.42 goals-against average and .902 save percentage at last years tournament as Canada settled for a fourth-place finish.That experience has helped the Montreal Canadiens second-round pick stay focused this year.We know that if we dont take care of this moment right now, if we dont take advantage of what we have in front of us, live in the moment, we wont have that chance at the end, he said. Its not that hard to just stay right here and take one step at a time and not skip a step.According to Canadian coach Benoit Groulx, the experience from last years tournament gave Fucale the edge for Sundays start.We like both of our goalies. They have been very good so far. It is just a matter of picking a very good goalie for tomorrow and Zach has the experience from last year, said Groulx. So we feel very comfortable having him in net tomorrow night.Eric Comrie, a Winnipeg Jets 2013 second-round pick, has a 1.555 goals-against average and .dddddddddddd33 save percentage in his two appearances at this years tournament.Fucale said the conversation on who will start Sunday wasnt long.It wasnt much of a conversation really, Fucale said. Me and (Comrie) were just stretching on the ice and (Groulx) came over to us and told us. It feels really good. Everyone wants to be in there and contribute.Were happy to have this opportunity tomorrow and were preparing well for it.Fucale made 12 saves to blank the Slovaks in the first game of the preliminary round on Boxing Day but expects a different team in the semis.That was the first game of the tournament, he said. Theyre going to be a different team, a better team. Certainly were a better team and weve been different. If we keep playing the way we can, and play out of our comfort zone, well have success.Fucale made 14 saves to shut out Denmark in Friday nights 8-0 quarter-final win and has allowed just one goal in the tournament while posting a .982 save percentage.The Slovaks always compete and theyre coming off a couple wins and they have some momentum right now, said Fucale. We cant underestimate them at all. Theyre in the semifinals so they certainly did something right to be there and theyre going to be ready for us.The winner between Canada and Slovakia will play either Russia or Sweden for gold on Monday night. 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