After long rain delay, Cardinals top Nationals 4-2 in series opener

By MATT PIKE

A rain delay that lasted just over two hours held off first pitch between the St. Louis Cardinals and Washington Nationals until 9 pm in St. Louis, but that didn’t stop the Cardinals from taking the series opener with a 4-2 win over the Nationals late Tuesday night at Busch Stadium. 

The Nationals opened the scoring in the third inning with both their runs, the first on an RBI single by James Wood driving in Jacob Young who walked with one out in the inning. Luis Garcia Jr grounded into a force out, Wood being thrown out at second, scoring CJ Abrams who had singled following the walk to Young. 

Trailing 2-0 entering the bottom half of the inning, the Cardinals took the lead scoring three runs in the frame, two coming on a home run from All Star Brendan Donovan, scoring Victor Scott II after he led off the inning with a double, and tying up the game before the Redbirds took the lead with an RBI double by Alec Burleson, driving in Masyn Winn who singled as part of the four consecutive hits the Cardinals recorded to start the inning. 

Lars Nootbaar extended the lead in the sixth inning with the only other run the Cardinals would need, a solo home run right field, his 12th home run of the season to give St. Louis the 4-2 lead. 

Sonny Gray earned the win, improving to 9-3 on the season, pitching five innings and giving up two runs on five hits while striking out six and walking one.  Ryan Helsley earned his 18th save of the season.  At the plate, Donovan was 1-for-3 with a walk and the home run with two RBIs.  St. Louis had seven hits, with seven players each getting one hit. 

St. Louis and Washington continue their series tomorrow.  Andre Pallante (5-4, 4.10 ERA) takes the mound for the Cardinals against MacKenzie Gore (3-8, 3.11 ERA) for the Nationals.  First pitch is at 6:45pm, coverage will be joined near the start at 6:35 on KY 102 (102.5 FM). 

You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt.