By MATT PIKE
Nolan Arenado was back at third base for the St. Louis Cardinals for the first time since last Friday, but despite having the All Star and Gold Glove third baseman back in the lineup, the Cardinals fell to the Washington Nationals 8-2 on Wednesday evening.
It was a three run home run in the first inning that started the scoring for the Nationals which would be to much to overcome for St. Louis, as Nathaniel Lowe hit a three run line drive home run to right field, driving in CJ Abrams and Josh Bell. The Cardinals did answer with one of their two runs in the bottom half of the inning Alec Burleson singling to bring home Willson Contreras who had doubled in the at bat just before him.
Leading 3-1, Washington scored another three runs in the fourth inning to extend the lead, first with Alex Call doubling home Bell who singled to start the inning. Jacob Young singled later in the inning to drive in Call and also Brady House who had singled following the double by Call to push the Nationals lead to 6-1.
Amed Rosario led off the fifth inning with a solo home run to push the Nationals ahead even more, before they scored their final run in the seventh inning on another home run, this time by James Wood, hitting his 24th home run of the season. St. Louis scored their final run in the bottom of the seventh inning, Masyn Winn hitting an RBI single to score Lars Nootbaar who led off the frame with a double.
Andre Pallante took the loss for the Cardinals, falling to 5-5 on the season, pitching six innings and giving up seven runs on eight hits while striking out one and walking one. At the plate, Winn was 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Nootbaar was 2-for-4 with a double.
St. Louis and Washington wrap up their series tomorrow. Miles Mikolas (4-6, 5.26 ERA) takes the mound for the Cardinals against Mike Soroka (3-6, 5.40 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).
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