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Bases-loaded walk in 8th lifts Nationals past Cardinals 3-2

WASHINGTON (AP) – Washington’s Yan Gomes drew a four-pitch walk from Giovanny Gallegos to force in the go-ahead run in an odd eighth inning that also featured St. Louis deploying a five-person infield, and the Nationals came back to edge the Cardinals 3-2 on Tuesday night.

St. Louis led 2-1 entering the eighth. But Gallegos (2-1) walked a batter, then hit one, before Trea Turner’s RBI single to the right on an 0-2 count tied the game.

One out and one intentional walk later, Gallegos faced Starlin Castro with the total of the base. Cardinals manager Mike Schildt removed an outfielder he had just inserted in the middle of the inning in favor of an extra infielder, Edmundo Sosa. That left the Cards with only a pair of corner outfielders.

The strategy worked out fine because Gallegos got Castro looking at strike three on a 94 mph fastball. But then came the free pass to Gomes that put the hosts ahead – and gave them a win on a day they put slugger Juan Soto on the 10-day injured list with a strained left shoulder. Daniel Hudson (2-0) threw a perfect eighth for the win, and Brad Hand pitched the ninth for his second save in two chances with Washington. It was the Cardinals’ first one-run game all season; every other major club already had participated in at least two.

Nationals past Cardinals

Both starting pitchers performed well, but neither factored in the decision.

Washington’s Patrick Corbin tossed six scoreless innings, removed with a 1-0 lead despite throwing 76 pitches. St. Louis’ Adam Wainwright struck out ten while allowing one run in seven innings and left with a 2-1 information. The only blemish: Josh Bell, batting .115, hit his first homer for the Nationals on a first-pitch curveball in the sixth.

game and optioned Ryne Harper to the alternate training site. It’s the first time in the majors for the 23-year-old Fuentes, who spent time at Class A Potomac and Double-A Harrisburg in 2019. Harper allowed one earned run in three innings of relief with Washington.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Nationals: Soto, the reigning NL batting champion, was originally listed in Tuesday’s starting lineup. He was replaced in the right field by Andrew Stevenson. Yadiel Hernandez was recalled from the alternate training site to replace Soto on the 26-man roster. … LHP Seth Romero, a 2017 first-round draft pick who turned 25 on Monday, hurt his ribs throwing a pitch about a week ago at the alternate training site and is “going to be out for a while,” manager Dave Martinez said.

UP NEXT

The series wraps up Wednesday afternoon with Washington sending three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (0-1, 2.37 ERA) to the mound to face Cardinals RHP Carlos Martínez (0-3, 7.80). Scherzer is 2-6 with a 3.31 ERA in 11 career starts against St. Louis.

More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

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Molly Aronson

I'm an award-winning blogger who enjoys all things creative but is especially passionate about lifestyle design. I blog over at mehlogy.com I love that I get to share my passion for healthy living, fashion, fitness, and travel with readers from all over the world.

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