Step right up, step right up! The first frame\u2019s upon us, and the hour is five past four, Eastern Daylight Time, at the grand Nationals Park! Let\u2019s begin\u2014<\/p>\n
To the top of the first, three gentlemen stand, three gentlemen fall! Now batting, young Nootbaar\u2014grounds one, second to first, and that\u2019s one away, sold! Next up, Winn\u2014lines it, sharp and true, but right at the second baseman, Garcia Jr., and he is out, two down, sold! Donovan takes his chance, grounds to short, Abrams swift to Lowe\u2014three up, three down, the hammer falls!<\/p>\n
To the bottom of the first\u2014please be advised, a brief delay on the field, gather your patience, folks! Play resumes\u2014Abrams up, lines out to the sure hands of Gorman at second, that\u2019s one gone. Alex Call at the plate, grounds it sharply, pitcher Pallante fields, over to Contreras at first\u2014two away, sold! Wood steps up, cracks a single, right to Nootbaar in right field, folks, a touch of excitement! Lowe at bat, lines out to center, Victor Scott II with a smooth, diving catch\u2014three outs, the gavel falls!<\/p>\n
Top of the second we go\u2014Arenado swings and misses, struck out by Williams, one down! Contreras to the plate\u2014he\u2019s hit by the pitch, sirens for the batter, he\u2019ll take his base. Burleson walks\u2014two on, no out, tension in the room! Gorman grounds into a force, Garcia Jr. to Abrams, Contreras advances, Burleson is out at second, Gorman safe, two outs! Pag\u00e9s steps in, singles to right, Contreras scores, the bid is up\u2014St. Louis leads, one-nil! Scott II up, singles left, Gorman scores, Pag\u00e9s to second\u2014St. Louis now up two! Nootbaar with a drive, doubles to right, Pag\u00e9s and Scott II both cross the plate! Nootbaar races for third, the price climbs higher\u2014four to nothing, St. Louis! Winn takes his turn but strikes out, inning\u2019s over, folks!<\/p>\n
Bottom of the second\u2014Ruiz grounds out, Gorman to Contreras, one down! Garcia Jr. follows, same story, second to first\u2014two gone! Tena up, grounds to Arenado at third, over to Contreras, three away, move along!<\/p>\n
Top third\u2014Donovan pops up, Tena at third catches in foul ground, one out! Arenado swings and misses, two gone! Contreras grounds out, Abrams to Lowe, three away, sold!<\/p>\n
Bottom third\u2014Young at the dish, caught looking, called third strike, one gone! Crews lines out to Arenado at third, that\u2019s two! Abrams flies out sharply to Donovan in left, who leaps, snags it from the air, and that\u2019s three, the crowd goes wild!<\/p>\n
Top of the fourth\u2014Burleson singles to left, Call fields. Gorman pops up to short, Abrams under it, one away! Pag\u00e9s swings and misses, two down! Burleson makes a dash, steals second base\u2014safe! Scott II bunts, Williams to Lowe at first, three away, change hands!<\/p>\n
Bottom four\u2014Call swings and misses, one away! Wood goes down swinging, two gone! Lowe grounds out to Winn at shortstop, Contreras at first, three down, and we roll on!<\/p>\n
Top of the fifth\u2014Nootbaar grounds out, Lowe to Williams, that\u2019s one! Winn singles to center, Young fields. Donovan grounds a double down the third base line, Winn to third! Arenado lines one, but Tena at third snares it, tags the runner for an unassisted double play! Three outs, the auctioneer\u2019s gavel falls!<\/p>\n
Bottom fifth\u2014Ruiz singles, Donovan in left fields. Garcia Jr. grounds out to Contreras at first, Ruiz to second, one away! Tena strikes out swinging, two gone! Young bunts, singles to Arenado at third, Ruiz to third! Crews up, swings and misses, three away, folks!<\/p>\n
Top sixth\u2014Contreras grounds out, Abrams to Lowe, one away. Burleson singles to center, Young fields. Gorman grounds into a force, Garcia Jr. to Abrams, Burleson out at second, Gorman safe, two gone! Pag\u00e9s flies out sharply to Young in center\u2014three outs, the gavel is swift!<\/p>\n
Bottom sixth\u2014another delay, patience, ladies and gentlemen! Play resumes\u2014Abrams flies out to Donovan in left, one down! Call grounds out, Gorman to Contreras, two away! Wood, called out on strikes, three gone, sold!<\/p>\n
Top seventh\u2014pitching change, Cole Henry now on the mound! Scott II swings and misses, one away! Nootbaar flies out to Crews in right, two gone! Winn flies out to Young in center, three away, hammer falls!<\/p>\n
Bottom seventh\u2014Lowe strikes out swinging, one away! Ruiz grounds out, Contreras to Pallante, two gone! Garcia Jr. flies out to Scott II in center, three down!<\/p>\n
Top eighth\u2014Donovan grounds out, Garcia Jr. to Lowe, one away! Arenado hit by pitch, he\u2019ll take his base, but there\u2019s an injury delay, hold your bids! Contreras walks, Arenado to second! Pitching change, Brzykcy in now! Burleson flies out to Call in left, two gone! Gorman pops up to Abrams at short, three away, Brzykcy strands two runners\u2014fine work!<\/p>\n
Bottom eighth\u2014Tena singles to right, Nootbaar fields. Young grounds out, Gorman to Contreras, Tena to second, one away! Crews steps up\u2014crack! Home run over left field, Tena scores, the crowd erupts! Four to two, St. Louis still leads! Pitching change, Romero takes the mound. Abrams doubles to left, Donovan fields. Call grounds out softly, Pag\u00e9s to Contreras, two gone! Wood walks, two on! Lowe grounds out, Arenado to Contreras, three away!<\/p>\n
Top ninth\u2014pitching change, Ferrer now pitching. Pag\u00e9s walks, one on! Scott II bunts, Ferrer to Lowe, Pag\u00e9s to second, one away! Nootbaar flies out to Young in center, two gone! Winn grounds out, Tena to Lowe, three away, sold!<\/p>\n
Bottom ninth\u2014pitching change, Helsley in for Romero. Defensive switch, Barrero at second for Gorman. Ruiz grounds out, Winn to Contreras, one down! Garcia Jr. swings and misses, two gone! Tena singles to left, Donovan fields. Pinch-hitter Bell replaces Young, wild pitch by Helsley, Tena to second! Bell walks, and pinch-runner Nu\u00f1ez now in for Bell. Tena steals third, Nu\u00f1ez steals second\u2014double theft! Crews walks, bases loaded! Abrams flies out to Nootbaar in right, three away, and that\u2019s the ballgame!<\/p>\n
St. Louis holds on, four to two, Ryan Helsley with his seventh save\u2014sold, to the Cardinals! That\u2019s 7 in a row! <\/p>\n
Umpire is calling some deep in the strike zone balls, definitely a pattern this year, smh<\/p>\n
7 hits per team today, Cardinals capitalize on 4 runs to Nationals 2
\nPallante had his best start of the season and went 7 1\u20443 IP with 7 K and no BB, 2 ER
\nPallante lowered his ERA to 4.36 and xFIP to 3.7 today
\nVictor Scott II amazing catch<\/a>!
\nPedro Pages makes it 1-0<\/a><\/p>\n