Jaime Garcia got back on track. After a tough string of starts, the lefty got through six innings and left with a 6-2 lead. However, a six run seventh inning cost the Cardinals their fourth loss in a row.
Miguel Batista got tagged for the loss when he surrended five runs, but then Trever Miller and Jason Motte couldn’t close the door. Batista gave up an RBI double to Ryan Zimmerman and a ground out cut the lead to 6-4 with outs, but Batista and the bullpen couldn’t get that third out.
Batista gave up another single to score a run to make it 6-5 and then surrended one more, before Trever Miller was called on. He hit a batter, threw a wild pitch to score another run and then after an intentional walk to re-load the bases, Jason Motte was called on and walked Laynce Nix on an 11 pitch at-bat to give the Nationals the lead.
Albert Pujols hit his 15th homer off Yuniesky Maya, the Nationals starter and Lance Berkman hit his 17th in the fourth off Maya.
