Alex Bregman hit a career‑high 7 RBIs and three homers in the Cubs’ 12‑6 rout of the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night. His first three‑homer game lifted Chicago to a season‑high 71‑50 record and brought the team within three games of the NL Central‑leading Milwaukee.

Dansby Swanson also went deep, and the Cubs’ 8‑of‑9 winning streak gave them momentum. Swanson’s go‑ahead RBI double in the sixth and Bregman’s two‑run shots kept the lead growing as Washington struggled to respond.

Bregman’s first club homer came in the fifth, ripping a sweeper from Jake Bird into the left‑side bullpen. He followed with a two‑run drive off rookie Trevor Williams in the eighth, and his earlier three‑run blast capped a four‑run inning. Swanson’s July 1 triple‑home‑game cameo was the last for a Cub until Bregman’s effort.

Cubs starter David Peterson (7‑7) allowed four runs over five innings, improving to 9‑2 with a 3.23 ERA against Washington. Javier Assad earned his second save, while Washington’s rookie left‑hander Jackson Kent made his debut, allowing three runs on five walks.