Dansby Swanson slammed a three-run homer in the five-run first inning and the Chicago Cubs went on to an 11-5 win against the visiting Washington Nationals in the opener of their three-game series on Friday afternoon.

Nico Hoerner doubled, homered, drove in two runs and scored twice, Reese McGuire singled and homered, Ian Happ homered and scored four times, and Pete Crow-Armstrong had two singles and two sacrifice flies for the Cubs (81-60), who have won three of four.

Chicago starter Javier Assad (2-1) allowed four runs and three hits over 5 1/3 innings. The right-hander struck out four and walked two.

Luis Garcia Jr. homered and Daylen Lile had two triples, two RBIs and scored twice for Washington (56-84), which was riding a three-game winning streak.

Nationals right-hander Jake Irvi

See Full Page