WASHINGTON -- The Cubs and Nationals were tied with one run apiece heading into the fourth inning. The bottom half of Chicago’s lineup was slated to bat -- with fresh, new faces ready to make an impact. Four runs later, the Cubs were on their way to a 6-3 win at Nationals Park on Saturday.

That type of big inning was exactly what manager David Ross hoped the lineup would put together. Sure, he always wants his team to win, but he wants to give players opportunities they may not have gotten prior to the Trade Deadline.

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One of those players is Andrew Romine, whose contract was selected by the club on Friday. In his Cubs debut, Romine made an immediate impact, going 2-for-4, including an RBI double during the fourth-frame rally. It was the first time since June 2018 that the veteran infielder recorded a multihit game.

Rafael Ortega also recorded two hits in the win, proving that regular playing time has helped him get hot.

“I think that what has helped me is that I've had a strong mentality throughout this time,” said Ortega, discussing his hot bat since returning from the All-Star break. “Specifically, adjustments at the plate and throughout my game since I've been here. I've been working with one of the coaches and he's been helping me out a lot as well with my plate discipline and how I’m approaching at-bats.”

Including his two-run homer in the fourth, Ortega has recorded six extra-base hits and scored six runs since the All-Star break. His batting average during that 16-game span is .378.

“It's been a great opportunity that I've had since the beginning, especially the new guys who have been called up,” Ortega said, reflecting on his progression as a player this season. “It’s sad to see the stars go, but I think it also gives me and the other players an opportunity to take advantage of it and state our place here with the team. I think, also continuing the legacy that the players that were here, the stars, what they did.”

New faces led the offense on Saturday night, but they were backed by a veteran on the mound. Now the longest-tenured Cubs player, Kyle Hendricks tossed seven innings and allowed just one run in the win. The right-hander has won 11 straight decisions and leads the Majors with 13 wins.

“It was a really, really tough time, still is,” said Hendricks when asked what his first start was like after seeing veterans like Anthony Rizzo, Javier Báez and Kris Bryant traded at the Deadline. “It's going to take a while to process. It's just very different around here without those guys. Nothing you can do but move forward. … Our jobs are to go out, take the field and just play as good of baseball as we can with who we got, like you saw today, [and] still win baseball games.”

As the dust continues to settle after the Trade Deadline and players make their Cubs (or MLB) debuts, this team will continue to adjust and learn how to succeed. It takes wins like Saturday’s to start that off.