Joe Kelly got a strikeout in the seventh, Trevor Rosenthal worked out of an eighth inning jam and Edward Mujica closed the door in the ninth as the Cardinals bullpen protected a one-run lead for Shelby Miller in a 3-2 victory over the Washington Nationals. Miller picked up his third win of the season, going 6.2 innings allowing two runs on back to back doubles in the fourth inning. That was Miller’s only rough inning as he allowed just four hits and two walks while striking out eight.
Allen Craig doubled in two runs in the third to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead off Dan Haren, then Yadier Molina put the Cards back on top with a single in the sixth off Haren, scoring Matt Holliday, who was hit by a pitch leading off the inning.
The Nationals threatened in the eighth when they put runners on second and third with two outs, but Trevor Rosenthal worked out of his jam striking out Ian Desmond. Mujica finished for his second save of the season.