Cubs' offense continues to produce in bunches with four-run fifth inning

WASHINGTON — There was extra oomph in Nationals starter DJ Herz’s gait after he retired the side in the first inning Saturday, and he cruised through four innings against his former club, leading by two.

But the Cubs’ offense, which has been potent of late, woke up in the fifth. Third baseman Isaac Paredes led off with a single down the third-base line, first baseman Michael Busch walked and second baseman Nico Hoerner singled.

With the bases loaded, center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong pushed a run across with a sacrifice fly to left field. Catcher Christian Bethancourt singled on a sharp line drive to center to tie the score and advanced to second on an error by center fielder Jacob Young. Left fielder Ian Happ grounded out to score Bethancourt and end Herz’s day.

Shortstop Dansby Swanson greeted Jacob Barnes with an RBI double to give the Cubs a two-run lead, and the four-run inning lifted then to a 5-3 victory.

“Christian just keeps coming up with big hits,” manager Craig Counsell said. “It was a big hit, got the game going, and Dansby had a big hit. We ran the bases well to get us some runs.”

Herz, whom the Cubs sent to the Nationals at the trade deadline last season for Jeimer Candelario, allowed four runs, three hits and two walks and struck out five.

Veterans catching fire

Happ and Swanson are hitting their stride at the plate at a time the Cubs need them most as they try to chase down a wild-card spot.

Swanson had his best month of the season in August, finishing with a slash line of .262/.344/.440.

“He has the ability to hit the ball out the other way,” Counsell said.

Happ has had an aggressive approach in the leadoff spot while supplying extra-base hits. He has doubled four times in his last five games. Having a leadoff hitter with power and an aggressive mindset can change a pitcher’s strategy.

“It’s great for a leadoff hitter to plant that in another team’s head,” Counsell said. “It’s a really interesting strategy. You make an out, and everybody’s like, ‘Oh, it’s one pitch, one out.’ But then we got to look back like, ‘Hey, we had four days in a row we got a double to lead off the game.’ That’s awesome.”

Happ finished August slashing .263/.354/.535 with six homers, 14 RBI and an OPS of .889.

“That puts the pitcher on his heels right away one pitch into the game, and it gives us a great run-scoring opportunity,” Counsell said.

This and that

Left-hander Jordan Wicks (right oblique strain) will start the series finale Sunday. Right-hander Jameson Taillon originally was scheduled to start. Wicks hasn’t started a game since June 14.

• Reliever Shawn Armstrong, whom the Cubs claimed on waivers Friday, was activated for the game Saturday. To make room on the roster, the Cubs optioned reliever Daniel Palencia Triple-A Iowa.

• Right-hander Hayden Wesneski threw a bullpen session Saturday. He has been on the injured list † since July 20 with a right forearm strain.

• Right-handed reliever Colten Brewer pitched Saturday at Iowa. He has been on the 60-day IL since early July when he fractured his left hand. V