CHICAGO, May 18 (UPI) -- After two straight shutout losses, Washington hit four home runs Thursday afternoon in a 5-3 win over the Chicago Cubs.
Marlon Anderson, Ryan Zimmerman, Damian Jackson and Alfonso Soriano hit homers for the Nationals -- who improved to 14-27 and prevented a three-game sweep, but have lost six of their last eight games overall.
Winner Ramon Ortiz (1-4) yielded three runs and eight hits in 5 1/3 innings with no walks and three strikeouts. Chad Cordero notched his fourth save.
Matt Murton had three hits; Michael Barrett had one run and two hits; and Neifi Perez had one run, one hit and one RBI for the Cubs (17-23), who were trying for their first three-game winning streak in a month.
Loser Kerry Wood (0-1) -- making his first start of the season after arm problems -- gave up five hits, including three homers, and four runs in five innings with no walks and six strikeouts.
