Ruiz and Candelario power the Nationals to a 7-5 victory over the Cubs #Ruiz #Candelario #power #Nationals #victory #Cubs

CHICAGO (AP) — Keibert Ruiz hit a two-run homer and went 3 for 3 with a double to lead the Washington Nationals past the Chicago Cubs 7-5 on Tuesday night.

Jeimer Candelario also launched a two-run drive in his return to the lineup, and Stone Garrett doubled twice among his three hits. Luis Garcia added two RBIs for last-place Washington.

Ian Happ and Patrick Wisdom each had a two-run homer for the Cubs, who have lost three of four. Cody Bellinger got two hits and Christopher Morel contributed an RBI single.

Washington Nationals relief pitcher Hunter Harvey walks off the field after being relieved in the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Thursday, July 6, 2023, in Washington. Harvey gave up a two-run home run to Cincinnati in the 10th. Cincinnati won 5-4. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

The Washington Nationals have placed reliever Hunter Harvey on the 15-day injured list with a right elbow strain. The move was made retroactive to Sunday.

Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams catches a ground ball during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Sunday, July 9, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Almost a year after trading Juan Soto, the Washington Nationals are struggling as expected. It will still be a while before that deal can be fully evaluated.

St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker dives and catches a fly ball by Washington Nationals' Riley Adams for an out during the eighth inning in the second game of a baseball doubleheader Saturday, July 15, 2023, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

Nolan Gorman hit a two-run double to break a fifth-inning tie, Alec Burleson homered and robbed Joey Meneses of a three-run drive and the St.

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Patrick Corbin delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Sunday, July 9, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Joey Meneses homered for the third consecutive day, Patrick Corbin earned his first home victory since May 20, and the Washington Nationals defeated the Texas Rangers 7-2.

MacKenzie Gore (5-7) went 6 1/3 innings to win for only the second time since April. The left-hander allowed five runs on five hits while striking out six and walking two.

Kyle Finnegan got four outs for his 12th save and first since May 27. He worked around a single and struck out the side in the ninth.

Drew Smyly (7-7) dropped his third straight decision, permitting five runs and eight hits in six innings despite striking out seven. The left-hander has a 9.86 ERA in his last four starts.

Candelario had two hits and reached base three times after missing two games with a bone bruise in his right thumb.

The third baseman gave Washington a 2-0 lead in the first, lofting the first pitch he saw down the left-field line and into the basket for just about the shortest possible homer at Wrigley Field at 359 feet.

Morel singled home a run in the second, then Washington opened a 4-1 lead in the fourth on Dominic Smith’s RBI groundout and a line single by Garcia off Morel’s glove at second base.

Garcia’s sacrifice fly in the sixth made it 5-1. Happ replied with his eighth homer, a low drive into the left-center bleachers, in the bottom half

Ruiz hit his 11th homer, going deep in-back-to-back games, in the seventh to make it 7-3. Wisdom homered in the bottom half to chase Gore.

NATS MOVES

Washington placed reliever Hunter Harvey on the 15-day injured list with a right elbow strain, retroactive to Sunday, and optioned RHP Joan Adon to Triple-A Rochester.

Harvey was sent back to Washington for an MRI after earning his ninth save by tossing a scoreless inning to close out a 7-5 win Friday at St. Louis. The 24-year-old right-hander won’t throw for 10 days, manager Dave Martinez said.

The Nationals also reinstated starter Patrick Corbin from the paternity list and recalled left-hander Joe La Sorsa from Rochester. Washington claimed righty Roddery Muñoz off waivers from Atlanta and optioned him to Rochester.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Nationals: RHP Carl Edwards Jr. (right shoulder inflammation) will throw a bullpen Tuesday and RHP Tanner Rainey (Tommy John surgery) will face hitters at the team’s training facility in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Cubs: All-Star SS Dansby Swanson (left heel bone bruise) took batting practice, ran and worked out on the field, but is “progressing slowly,” according to manager David Ross. … INF Nick Madrigal (right hamstring strain) is ahead of schedule and could go on a rehab assignment at the end of the week.