ST. LOUIS — The Nationals loaded the bases in three consecutive innings on Saturday night, and the Cardinals were able to escape the jams in the fourth and fifth innings without allowing a run.
They were not as lucky in the sixth.
Reliever Chris Roycroft walked the bases loaded, and Matthew Liberatore allowed a double, single, double and home run to the next four batters as the Nationals erupted for seven runs and went on to blow out the Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
The seven runs were the most the Cardinals have allowed in an inning this season. It was the second game in a row in which the Nationals scored 10 or more runs to open this three-game series.
Infielder Brandon Crawford finished the game on the mound, getting the final four outs, but allowed four runs in the ninth.
It was the third consecutive loss for the Cardinals and the fourth loss in their last five games.
Here is how Saturday night’s game broke down:
At the plate: The Cardinals had only two hits through the first five innings and trailed 9-0 before Willson Contreras hit a two-run homer in the sixth … Matt Carpenter, who entered the game in the eighth inning, drove in their other run with a single … Brendan Donovan had a pair of singles to snap an 0-of-18 streak.
On the mound: Kyle Gibson was able to get out of the first bases-loaded jam, in the fourth thanks to a diving catch in right field by Lars Nootbaar … The Nationals also loaded the bases with one out in the fifth before Gibson got a foul out and a fly out … Gibson allowed two runs over his five innings, leaving after throwing 97 pitches … The Nationals finished with 16 hits and had 20 at-bats with a runner in scoring position after having 18 at-bats with a runner on second or third on Friday night.
Key stat: In six games against the Nationals this season, the Cardinals have allowed 47 runs, 44 of them earned, over 56 innings. That’s an ERA of 7.07.
Worth noting: The game began after a 2 hour, 4 minute rain delay … Crawford had one previous career pitching appearance, when he was with the Giants. He had warmed up to come into a game earlier this season before the Cardinals scored to make the margin too close for a position player to pitch, according to MLB rules … Top prospect Tink Hence started for Springfield on Saturday night, his first game since June 23. He was limited to just 24 pitches, recording five outs, four of them by strikeouts.
Looking ahead: Miles Mikolas will get the start on Sunday as the Cardinals try to avoid being swept in the series.
