By MATT PIKE
The St. Louis Cardinals blew a three run lead in the bottom of the eighth, a six run frame by the Washington Nationals dooming the Redbirds to a series opening 9-6 loss at Nationals Park.
The Nationals took an early lead in the game in the bottom of the first as Daylen Lile grounded out to shortstop, driving in James Wood for the first run of the game. CJ Abrams walked to load the bases and Nasim Nuñez singled to bring home Luis García Jr. to take a 2-0 lead after one inning. In the fifth inning, the Cardinals cut the lead to one run as Alec Burleson grounded into a force out with the bases loaded, scoring Thomas Saggese.
St. Louis took the lead for a brief moment in the top of the sixth inning. Nolan Gorman walked to lead off the inning, and after Masyn Winn popped out, with one out Ramón Urías hit his second home run of the season to give the Cardinals a one run lead. In the bottom half though, Washington tied the game as Jacob Young doubled following back-to-back walks to Drew Millas and José Tena, scoring Tena from second base to end the sixth tied 3-3.
The Cardinals took the lead again in the top half of the eighth, Jordan Walker leading the inning off with a solo home run. Winn walked with one out before scoring to extend the lead as Urias drove in his third run of the game with a double, later coming home to score on a sacrifice bunt from Victor Scott II, taking a 6-3 lead heading into the bottom half of the inning.
Things would come apart in the bottom half of the inning though, Washington putting up a six run frame, first tying the game as Wood hit a three run home run, scoring Millas and Joey Wiemer. With the bases cleared, and Matt Svanson taking the mound in relief of Ryne Stanek, the Nationals took took the lead as Curtis Mead doubled, and scored on the second home run of the inning, Brady House going to center field. Abrams added the final run of the inning on another home run, his fourth of the season, to end the scoring taking the 9-6 lead.
Walker did get a single in the bottom of the ninth, and moved to second base on a wild pitch, but the St. Louis could not push any runs across as Cionel Pérez earned the win in relief pitching a scoreless ninth inning. Pérez was granted the win, rather than a save, due to Rule 9.17(c).
Svanson took the loss in relief for the Cardinals, falling to 0-1 on the season, giving up three runs on three hits in 0.2 innings with one strikeout. At the plate, Urias was 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, and three RBIs, coming a triple shy of the cycle. Walker was 2-for-5 with a home run and one RBI. Saggese was also 2-for-3 with a double and a walk.
St. Louis and Washington continue their series tomorrow. Matthew Liberatore (0-0, 1.64 ERA, 4K's) takes the mound for the Cardinals still searching for his first win of the season against Cade Cavalli (0-0, 2.79 ERA, 8K's) for the Nationals, also seeking his first win. First pitch is at 5:45pm, pregame will begin near the start at 5:35 on KY 102 (102.5FM).
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