ST. LOUIS _ A late comeback wasn't enough for the Cardinals to overcome early mistakes. They committed three errors and fell, 5-4, to the Nationals. The loss snapped an eight-game win streak for Mike Shildt's club.
Former MVP Bryce Harper, who is hitting just .243, strung together a three-hit night for the Nationals and drove in three. He doubled off Cardinals starter Luke Weaver in the first to bring Trea Turner home, and picked up two more RBIs with a single in the fourth.
The Cardinals committed three errors on the evening. Due to fielding miscues, only two of the Nationals' runs were charged to Cardinals pitchers.
Tyler O'Neill doubled with one out in the sixth, and Paul DeJong brought him home with a single. A Kolten Wong double scored DeJong.
Harrison Bader came to the plate next and dribbled a ball to third baseman Anthony Rendon, who threw wildly to first. The ball got away, allowing Wong to score from second. Wong's run cut the Cardinals' deficit to one run.
Luke Weaver lasted just 32/3 innings and allowed two earned runs. He seemingly worked out of the fourth inning when he got Trea Turner to hit a grounder to Kolten Wong, but Matt Carpenter dropped Wong's throw at first. The Cardinals brought in Tyson Ross to face Harper, who singled in two.
Ross did not allow an earned run in 31/3 innings, though one Nationals run scored on the pitcher's fielding error in the fifth inning. He couldn't come up with a slow come-backer, allowing Daniel Murphy to cross the plate.
The Cardinals' Brett Cecil tossed a scoreless eighth in his first appearance since a stint on the disabled list, and Mike Mayers did not allow a run in the top of the ninth.
Matt Carpenter walked twice, extending his on-base streak to 34 games.
