WASHINGTON, April 25 (UPI) -- The first home run of Wil Nieves' MLB career, a two-run shot in the ninth Friday, lifted the Washington Nationals to a 5-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs.
Chicago tied the game in the eighth on a bases-loaded walk served up by Michael O'Connor, but Nieves came through to give the Nationals their second straight win.
With Bob Howry (0-2) on the mound, Austin Kearns opened the ninth with a single to center. Willie Harris struck out, but Nieves followed by hitting an 0-2 pitch over the wall in right.
That made a winner out of Jon Rauch (2-0), who worked a perfect top of the ninth.
The home run by Nieves came in his 163rd major league at-bat. Nick Johnson contributed a two-run homer for the Nationals in the first inning.
Chicago remained one game shy of equaling the club's all-time record for wins in April. The Cubs had 16 April victories in 1969.
