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Washington Nationals: Stephen Strasburg and Big Seventh Inning Lead Nats to Victory Over Cardinals

By Matt Holleran

May 29, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) throws to the St. Louis Cardinals during the fourth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
May 29, 2016; Washington, DC, USA; Washington Nationals starting pitcher Stephen Strasburg (37) throws to the St. Louis Cardinals during the fourth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /
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Stephen Strasburg picked up his ninth win of the season, and Jayson Werth hit a key grand slam, leading the Washington Nationals to 10-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals this afternoon.

Both starting pitchers, Michael Wacha and Stephen Strasburg, had it going through the first three innings. There was no score and Wacha had held the Nats hitless. In the top of the fourth inning, Brandon Moss got the Cards offense going. He drove a 3-2 fastball from Strasburg into the second deck in right field, giving the Cardinals a 1-0 lead. With Wacha pitching the way he was, things did not look great for the Nats.

In the bottom of the fourth inning the Nationals got the run right back. Michael Taylor led off the inning with the Nats first hit of the game, a double to left field. Bryce Harper was up next and blooped an RBI single to right, scoring Taylor and trying the score at 1-1. After a Ryan Zimmerman double, Wilson Ramos came up with two outs in the inning and runners on second and third. Ramos delivered in a big way, lacing a two-run single to right, scoring Harper and Zimmerman, and giving the Nats a 3-1 lead.

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After giving up the homer, Strasburg settled into a grove. He gave the Nats six solid innings and held the lead at 3-1 into the top of the seventh. Atlhough Strasburg only struck out four, which is not we have been accustomed to seeing from him this season, he once again kept his team in the game and gave them a great chance to win, which he has done all year.

In the top of the seventh as the game was turned over to the Nationals’ bullpen, they worked themselves into a jam. Oliver Perez gave up two singles to Aledmys Diaz and Greg Garcia, and was replaced by Blake Treinen with runners on first and second and one out. Treinen followed up what Perez did allowing a single to Matt Holliday and loading the bases with still only one out.

With the lefty Matt Adams waiting, Dusty Baker went to Felipe Rivero to try to get the Nats out of trouble. Adams lifted an RBI sac fly to right, scoring Diaz and cutting the Nationals lead to 3-2. Rivero then faced Randal Grichuk and got him to fly out to left, keeping the lead intact.

In the bottom of the seventh the Nationals blew this game open. Anthony Rendon led off the inning with a homer to centerfield, his fourth of the season, extending the lead to 4-2. The next two batters — Wilson Ramos and Danny Espinosa — singled, giving the Nats a great chance to deliver the knockout blow. After a Revere walk with one out, the Nationals pinch hit Werth with the bases loaded. Werth delivered the blow the Nats had been waiting for, launching a grand slam to center field, and blowing the game wide open at 8-2.

In the bottom of the eighth, the Nationals continued to pile it on. Ramos hit a two-run homer to left, his sixth of the season, extending the Nationals’ lead to 10-2. Jonathan Papelbon came on in the top of the ninth and got a 1-2-3 inning, securing a 10-2 win for the Nats.

Next: Washington Nationals Reaction: Surging Zimmerman not enough to help slumping Gonzalez

Next Game: Tomorrow the Washington Nationals (30-21) head to Citizens Bank Park to take on the Philidelphia Phillies (26-24) at 7:05 p.m. ET. Tanner Roark (3-4 2.71) gets the ball for the Nats and will be opposed by Jeremy Hellickson (4-3 3.97) for the Phillies. You can watch the game on MASN.

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