WASHINGTON -- Jordan Wicks returned from the injured list to the Cubs during an exciting time for the team. To settle his nerves, manager Craig Counsell simplified his message, tasking Wicks with just providing a ¡°normal start¡± in Sunday¡¯s series finale against the Nationals.

The outing was not normal, but it was effective. Wicks became the fourth Cubs pitcher to record no strikeouts or walks in five-plus innings pitched since 2000 -- the last being Alec Mills on July 29, 2021. Wicks allowed one run off four hits to lead the North Siders to a 14-1 victory at Nationals Park, earning the win in his return to the Majors.

¡°It helped for sure just to get through that [second] inning. Gave us three more good innings and it was a really good start,¡± Counsell said.

The Cubs swept their second consecutive series, going 8-1 on the road trip. Chicago also pushed its win streak to six games -- a season high for the club. They inched even closer in the Wild Card race at 3 1/2 games behind the Braves for the final spot, pending Sunday¡¯s results.

Wicks, 25, was scratched from what would have been his final rehab start on Friday and Counsell said it was to keep an option open during the season. They announced his start in place of Jameson Taillon, who was originally scheduled to pitch on Sunday, the following night.

¡°Just kind of looking at where [Taillon], and even Justin [Steele], are -- just giving them an extra day's rest. ¡­ We thought it was productive for them to be strong for the next five starts,¡± Counsell said. ¡°So obviously, being September 1, we had the ability to add a player without kind of changing the roster, so it worked out.¡±

Wicks took the mound for his first frame of work and showed his effectiveness quickly, retiring the first three batters he faced with 17 pitches and some help from the defense.

¡°It felt good to be back, to be out there competing and just trying to fill [the strike zone] up from the start,¡± Wicks said. ¡°To be able to go out there, everything felt great and I was just happy to settle in.¡±

The Cubs¡¯ 2021 first-round Draft pick found himself in a jam after allowing the Nationals to get three base hits in the second inning. With bases loaded and no outs, Wicks dealt an 82.6 mph changeup to Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz.

Ruiz sent the ball toward third base, where Isaac Paredes ranged to his left to make a diving stop. The third baseman came up firing to second to start a much-needed double play, on which James Wood scored.

¡°It¡¯s an adrenaline rush that you feel on the field,¡± Paredes said in Spanish. ¡°When the ball gets to you, it¡¯s something your body automatically does if you prepare. That play turned out and it helped the pitcher get out of the inning with only one run, and it was a little bit of a confidence boost for him to throw a good game.¡±

The play not only gave Wicks a sense of relief and confidence to continue through the rest of his outing, but it also changed the momentum of the game.

¡°I thought we were looking at trouble, we were looking at a big deficit and we made a great play there,¡± Counsell said. ¡°Jordan got on track and pitched really well.¡±

Wicks made it out of the inning with just the run allowed, reducing the early damage, and added three more scoreless frames to his night. Chicago¡¯s offense responded accordingly once again over the rest of his outing, logging 14 unanswered runs to complete the sweep over the Nats.

The North Siders have scored 14 or more runs for the fourth time in their past eight games. Only two teams have four or more such games all season -- the Yankees with five and D-backs with four. Wicks finally watched his teammates continue their red-hot streak live and in person.

¡°It¡¯s been exciting watching them. I¡¯ve been tuned into pretty much every game while I¡¯ve been gone,¡± the southpaw said. ¡°Just to see the way we¡¯re swinging the bats and flying around the field and doing all that sort of stuff is a lot of fun to see and it¡¯s even more fun in person.¡±