Cardinals at Nationals
Although they put up only 10 hits in the past two games, the St. Louis Cardinals have managed to split a pair of decisions with the host Washington Nationals. Stephen Piscotty's grand slam was the big blow in Friday's 6-2 victory for the Cardinals, who send Adam Wainwright to the mound Saturday night against Washington.
St. Louis snapped a three-game winning streak and gave manager Mike Matheny his 400th win despite a patchwork lineup missing Matt Carpenter and Matt Adams, who could both return Saturday. Greg Garcia, called up from Triple-A Memphis when Carpenter went on the paternity list, homered Friday and is 2-for-3 with three walks and two runs scored in his first two games. Danny Espinosa homered for the second straight day for the Nationals, who have scored four runs over their past three games. Washington, which fell into a first-place tie with the New York Mets atop the National League East, sends left-hander Gio Gonzalez to the mound Saturday.
TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, FOX
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Adam Wainwright (4-3, 5.77 ERA) vs. Nationals LH Gio Gonzalez (3-2, 2.87)
Although he did not factor in the decision, Wainwright extended his unbeaten string to six starts after giving up three runs on seven hits over six innings last time out. The 34-year-old turned in his best start of the season in his previous turn, tossing 6 2/3 scoreless innings of six-hit ball in a 2-0 victory over Colorado. Daniel Murphy is 7-for-14 and Bryce Harper 6-for-15 versus Wainwright, who owns a 7-3 mark and 2.78 ERA against Washington.
Gonzalez had been a model of consistency until he was shelled by the New York Mets for seven runs on 10 hits over five innings while also serving up three homers -- matching his total in his previous eight starts combined. In his first eight outings, Gonzalez held opponents to one earned run or fewer on six occasions. Gonzalez is 2-1 with a razor-thin 1.54 ERA in five starts versus St. Louis, but he must be wary of Yadier Molina, who is 6-for-15 against him.
WALK-OFFS
1. Cardinals 1B Adams, on a 7-for-11 tear, reported improvement Friday after back stiffness forced him to exit the series opener.
2. Nationals 3B Anthony Rendon is 4-for-6 in the series and has multiple hits in six of his last 10 games.
3. Carpenter missed the past three games to be with his wife, who gave birth to the couple's first child.