ST. LOUIS _ Alex Mejia took the field Saturday looking for his first big league hit.
He left the hero of the Cardinals' 2-1 win over the Nationals.
Mejia not only recorded his first career hit when he blooped an RBI single into center field in the second inning, he also provided an exclamation point with his first career home run in the eighth.
As a team, the Cardinals had four hits Saturday. Mejia provided two, and batted in both of the team's runs in the process.
His single in the second, which scored Luke Voit, got help from shortstop Paul DeJong. As Voit charged home from second base, DeJong, who had been on first, baited Nationals center fielder Michael Taylor into throwing to third base rather than try to throw Voit out at the plate.
Taylor's throw easily beat DeJong to third, and DeJong turned back toward second, apparently caught in a rundown. By that point, Voit had scored. However, no Nationals player covered second base and DeJong retreated safely, rewarded for his assist.
That was all the offense starter Michael Wacha needed. Pitching on his 26th birthday, Wacha threw six scoreless innings. The outing was his second straight quality start after he had only one in his previous six outings. Wacha allowed four hits and walked one while striking out a season-high nine batters.
Mejia's surprising outburst at the plate was not the only birthday present Wacha received from his teammates. The Cardinals bullpen, which has struggled of late, provided three scoreless innings. In two of the Cardinals' last three losses, the team took a lead into the eighth inning.
Brett Cecil pitched a one-two-three seventh for his 19th scoreless appearance in his last 20 outings. Seung-Hwan Oh, who was not made available Wednesday, Thursday or Friday following Tuesday's blown save, struck out two batters after the first batter he faced got on base due to a Jose Martinez error in the eighth. Tyler Lyons came in to finish the inning.
Trevor Rosenthal manned Oh's usual closer spot. As usual, he provided some drama.
Rosenthal started the inning by walking Bryce Harper. After striking out Ryan Zimmerman, he gave up a single to Daniel Murphy. Murphy was thrown out on a ground ball hit by Anthony Rendon, but Rendon beat out a double-play throw to first to extend the game. Rosenthal then gave up a single to Stephen Drew that scored Harper, and walked Matt Wieters to load the bases.
Matt Bowman, who gave up the game-winning run in the 10th inning against Arizona in his last appearance, was called in to record the last out. It took nine pitches, but Bowman did so by striking out pinch hitter Adrian Sanchez.
In the game, the Cardinals pitching staff allowed six hits and struck out 14 batters.
