CHICAGO -- Dan Haren showed speed isnt always the most important factor to having success on the mound. Despite throwing every pitch under 90 miles per hour, Haren allowed just five hits and one run in six strong innings to lead the Washington Nationals to a 4-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night. "In the beginning of the year, I was throwing harder and my stuff was nasty," Haren said, "but I was getting burned by the homers and the one mistake I would make would kill me." Since being activated from the disabled list on July 8, Haren (8-11) is 4-2 with a 2.20 earned run average in eight starts. "Its been unbelievable," Nationals manager Davey Johnson said. "Hes been really pitching good. Hes shown hes a quality pitcher and hes bounced back and pitched great." Asked for his take on the secret to Harens success against the Cubs while topping out at 89 mph, Johnson said: "He locates, changes speeds, hits his spots. Velocity is way overrated." Ryan Zimmerman had two hits and drove in a run, and Bryce Harper also had two hits and scored a crucial ninth-inning run for Washington. Zimmerman had two doubles and could have had two more hits as he lined out to third base in the third inning to start a double play and hit a hard shot at the centre fielder in the seventh. Harper doubled leading off the ninth and scored on Ian Desmonds RBI single to right field. Denard Span, a late-inning defensive replacement, added a run-scoring single for the Nationals final run. Rafael Soriano gave up a leadoff homer to Donnie Murphy in the bottom of the ninth before getting the last three outs for his 32nd save in 38 chances. Cubs starter Chris Rusin (2-3) gave up two runs and 10 hits in 5 2-3 innings, managing to work out of jam after jam with minimal damage. "Just made a couple mistakes that cost me, but I was able to get out of jams, so I helped myself out there," he said. Last September, Rusin was roughed up for five runs on eight hits in one inning against the Nationals. "It was better than last year against these guys," Rusin said. "We didnt get the win. Thats the bad part about it. Just got to learn from a couple mistakes." The Cubs offence -- which scored just 12 runs in eight home games before an 11-run outburst on Monday -- went back into its Wrigley Field struggles. "It is what it is right now," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said. "We score on home runs. Today, both solo home runs." For Haren, the last week has been a whirlwind. He pitched six innings in a start against San Francisco last Thursday, and then made a relief appearance on Saturday, pitching one inning to earn the save in the Nats 15-inning win over Atlanta. There was some concern about how Haren would bounce back. "I felt fine physically, but warming up, it was just a little tougher to get loose," he said. "The first inning or two was a battle, but as the game progressed my stuff got better. "I didnt have my best stuff, especially in the beginning like I said. My cutter was real good. I worked that in on lefties a lot. I didnt throw quite as many splits and my fastball got better as the game went along." The Nationals took a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning as Zimmerman opened with a double, moved to third on Jayson Werths single and scored one out later on Tyler Moores run-scoring infield single. Washington went ahead in the top of the first. Ian Desmond reached on a fielders chose when the Cubs failed to turn a seemingly routine double play, and then scored on Zimmermans double to left field. The Cubs tied it in the bottom of the fourth on Brian Bogusevics first homer of the season, a two-out shot to right field that landed in the first row of the bleachers. NOTES: After the game, the Nationals optioned LHP Ian Krol to Class AAA Syracuse to make room for RHP Ross Ohlendorf. "Hes still learning up here," Johnson said of Krol, "but hes got a heck of a future." ... Cubs SS Starlin Castro batted eighth for the first time this season. He went 0 for 4 to extend his slump to 1 for 27. ... After being sent to the minors earlier in the season, Nationals reliever Drew Storen is back and throwing the ball more effectively, coming off three scoreless appearances in Atlanta during the weekend. ... The four-game series continues Wednesday night with the Ohlendorf (2-0) facing the Cubs Jake Arrieta (1-0).Nolan Ryan Angels Jersey . The news was first reported on Gonzalezs Twitter account and confirmed by the Rockies. Gonzalez has a six-week window before position players have their first workout at spring training in Arizona. Shohei Ohtani Angels Jersey . Artturi Lehkonen, Joni Nikko and Ville Leskinen had the other goals for Finland (1-0) while Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots. Tim Robin Johnsgard had the lone goal for Norway (0-2). http://www.baseballangelslockroom.com/justin-upton-angels-jersey/ . Aduriz headed home Markel Susaetas cross in the sixth minute to open the scoring at San Mames Stadium. He bettered that with a long-range blast that went in off the goal frame in the 18th, and converted a penalty in the 72nd after Diego Mainz was sent off for fouling Aduriz with only the goalkeeper to beat. Matt Harvey Jersey . Darren Helm scored on Detroits sixth attempt in the shootout and then Jonas Gustavsson stopped Andrew Shaws shot, lifting the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night. Brian Goodwin Angels Jersey . -- There were so many positives from the Orlando Magics first victory of the season that it was hard for coach Jacque Vaughn to stop praising his players.MILWAUKEE -- Ryan Braun shook off a tough second inning and came on strong when it mattered.Braun hit two home runs and the Milwaukee Brewers tied a season high with their fourth straight win, beating the Colorado Rockies 7-1 Wednesday.Braun tracked Christhian Adames long fly ball in the second, but then watched it clank off the heel of his glove and roll onto the warning track. It was his second error of the season, but Zach Davies (10-6) stranded Adames at second by striking out the side.Ugly start, Braun said. So I was happy to have a good finish.Braun hit a solo drive off Tyler Anderson in the fourth inning. He connected for his 24th homer, a two-run drive, off Chad Qualls during a four-run seventh. The two were the 199th and 200th different pitchers that have given up homers to Braun, a bit of trivia that had escaped him.I had no idea, he said. If I have been able to do that, obviously that speaks to some longevity, some consistency. So its a pretty cool accomplishment, but not something I was aware of.Brewers manager Craig Counsell brought out the compliments for Braun, especially what he did against a left-hander.Theres no question, hes the main guy, the center of the lineup, the guy who drives the bus most often, for sure, Counsell said. Against these lefties, these are good days for Ryan.The Brewers posted their first three-game sweep over Colorado at Miller Park since 2011. It was Milwaukees fourth sweep of the season and third at home.Nolan Arenado hit his NL-leading 34th homer in the first, his fourth shot in 15 plate appearances. The Rockies went on to load the bases, but Davies escaped further trouble.Arenado downplayed his success.I know Ill be able to sleep a little better knowing that I am swinging the bat like I know I can, but its tough going home knowing we got swept like this, he said.Davis struck out eight in six innings.Were struggling out there right now, Rockies manager Walt Weiss said. We got some young guys out there that are very talented, theyre learning on the job. We got some veterans that are searching for some confidence right now.Anderson (4-5) fanned a career-high 10 in five innings.Braun was impressed with Andersons effort.I thought (Anderson) was good the whole time, Braun said. He really kept us off-balance. He had good stuff, cutter, fastball was getting up to 95, really good changeup. Certainly some deception in his delivery, too.The Brewers manufactured the go-ahead run in the fifth. Orlando Arcia walked, advanced on a groundout, stole third and scored on Jonatthan Villars second hit of the game.ddddddddddddMilwaukee tacked on another run on Arcias bunt single in the sixth off reliever Chris Rushin. Arcia pushed a bunt in front of the plate. Catcher Tony Wolters chased it down and flipped it to Rushin covering the plate, but Hernan Perez stepped around the tag and scored.Chris Carter hit an RBI double and scored on a single by Domingo Santana in the seventh.A RARE PAIR OF TENSAndersons strikeouts came a day after Jon Gray fanned 10. According to STATS, this was the first time Rockies starters had reached double-digit strikeouts in consecutive games.PARRA DEBUTS AT FIRSTGerardo Parra started at first base for the first time in 988 career games. Hes done it before (in spring training), but briefly, Weiss said. Hes been working out over there. Im just trying to find a way to keep him involved.TRAINERS ROOMRockies: 2B DJ LeMahieu, second in the NL in batting at .344, missed his second consecutive game with inflammation in left wrist. Hes still available to do some of the other things, but Im not going to use him to hit, Weiss said. When you hurt your wrist, your fingers or anything to your hand as a hitter, it is going to take a while. The Rockies have an off day Thursday. ... CF Charlie Blackmon returned to the lineup after not starting four games with a bruised right toe.Brewers: RHPs Junior Guerra and Jacob Barnes and 3B Will Middlebrooks are headed out on rehab assignments. Guerra makes a start for Triple-A Colorado Springs on Saturday. Barnes is expected to pitch out of the bullpen on Friday with Double-A Biloxi. Middlebrooks takes the field with Class-A Wisconsin on Wednesday night. All three players are expected to rejoin the team when rosters expand on Sept. 1.UP NEXTRockies: RHP Jeff Hoffman (0-1, 13.50 ERA) makes his second career start and first on the road in the opener Friday of a three-game series against the Washington Nationals. Two years removed from Tommy John surgery, Hoffman was acquired from Toronto on July 28, 2015, as part of a deal for RHP LaTroy Hawkins and SS Troy Tulowitzki.Brewers: RHP Wily Peralta (5-9, 6.00) makes his first start this season against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He is 2-2 with a 3.55 ERA in six career starts against Pittsburgh. The opening day starter, he made 10 starts for Triple-A Colorado Springs after being optioned there on June 12. He is 1-2 in three starts since rejoining the rotation. ' ' '