The Washington Nationals gave up five runs in the seventh inning and beyond to drop game two against the St. Louis Cardinals
In yet another letdown by the bullpen, the Washington Nationals dropped Tuesday night's game in extra innings, falling 7-6 against the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Nationals gave up a pair of home runs, including a two-run shot, to let the Cardinals mount the late game comeback before Cole Henry gave up a pair of doubles in the top of the tenth, too much for the Nationals to overcome.
Through 4.2 innings, Cade Cavalli tossed three strikeouts and four walks while allowing four hits and one earned run, yet once again failed to pick up the win despite an encouraging showing.
James Wood also starred once again, finishing 2-of-4 including his fourth home run of the season and third home run in as many days. It marked the first time in his career that Wood accomplished the feat, doing so while not striking out for the second consecutive game. After a slow start to spring training spilled into the first week of the regular season, Wood has started to turn the corner this week after questions about a slow start.
CJ Abrams finished 2-of-4 for his third multi-hit game of the season, while also hitting safely in eight consecutive games now to tie the longest active streak across the MLB. Factoring in walks, Abrams has reached base in ten consecutive games.
Yet it would be the Cardinals to open the scoring after Cavalli opened the game with a walk then a single into right to put runners on the corners. Daylen Lile cut the deficit in half after his single into center brought in James Wood, who opened the frame with a single, from second.
Wood's 394 foot home run in the bottom of the third tied the game at two before Curtis Mead joined the party, belting a 398 foot home run for his first as a National. Four at bats later, CJ Abrams jumped in after a single into right field brought in Daylen Lile from third, pushing Washington ahead 4-2.
Mead's single to center added another insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning, leading to Wood's third run of the night, before the Cardinals answered back with a 386 foot home solo home run in the seventh.
With PJ Poulin then Gus Varland on the mound, the Cardinals capitalized on two home runs to bring a runner in after a walk to tie the game before giving up the lead in the first at bat of extra innings.
Daylen Lile would score on a wild pitch in the bottom of the tenth, but Nasim Nunez ended the game with a runner stranded on third base.
Now 4-7 overall, Washington will now prepare to take the rubber match on Wednesday with first pitch set for 4:05 PM.