Cardinals even series with win at Washington

A Stephen Piscotty grand slam highlighted a five-run St. Louis third, and the Cardinals went on to a 6-2 win over Washington Friday night.

Max Scherzer (5-4, 4.05 ERA) has given up an MLB-worst 15 home runs this season. The Nats ace held St. Louis to three hits in seven innings, but he also walked four, and the Cards made him pay.

Scherzer walked Matt Holliday with the bases loaded in the third in advance of the Piscotty slam that made it 5-0 St. Louis.

Danny Espinosa hit his fifth homer of the season, a solo shot in the fifth.

Garcia homered in the eighth for the Cardinals (25-24).

Washington (29-20) have a half-game lead on the New York Mets in the National League East.