St. Louis touched up the shaky back end of the Nats bullpen with single runs in the eighth and ninth to post a 7-5 win over Washington on Wednesday.
The Nationals had fought back from an early 5-0 deficit with a five-spot in the third, the big hit of the rally being a two-out, three-run double by Yunel Escobar.
But Washington would get just two hits the rest of the way, and the last Nats baserunner came in the seventh on a two-out walk to Bryce Harper, who was promptly picked off with Ryan Zimmerman standing in the batter’s box.
St. Louis took control in the next half-inning. Jon Jay worked a one-out walk off Blake Treinen (0-2), then advanced to third on a Yadier Molina single. Kolten Wong doubled to plate Jay.
After the Nats went down in order in the eighth, the Cardinals added an insurance run in the ninth on a long Matt Adams homer to right.
Trevor Rosenthal set the Nationals down in order in the ninth to record his ninth save.
Doug Fister gave up five runs, four earned, in six innings of work for Washington, striking out three and walking two.
John Lackey gave up five runs, all earned, on eight hits in five and two-thirds for St. Louis, striking out four and walking one.
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