Harper, Ramos deliver during three-run rally (Nats win 10-2)

The Nationals have nearly been no-hit by Michael Wacha before. They certainly didn't want to find themselves in that same boat today, so it's safe to say they breathed a sigh of relief when Michael A. Taylor broke up the right-hander's shot at history before things started to get too serious.

And then it's safe to say they were downright giddy when Taylor's double in the bottom of the fourth set the table for a three-run rally that has given them a 3-1 lead.

Taylor's leadoff double represented the Nationals' first hit of the afternoon against Wacha. Moments later, Bryce Harper delivered a rare hit for this team with a man in scoring position, fighting off an inside pitch and singling to right field to bring Taylor home.

The Nationals had been in a 1-for-19 slump with runners in scoring position, with most of their runs this homestand coming via solo homers.

They didn't stop there. Ryan Zimmerman doubled off the wall in right field, putting men on second and third. Wilson Ramos then brought them both home with a two-out two-run single to right that gave the Nationals their first lead of the day.

The Cardinals had taken a 1-0 lead a few minutes earlier on Brandon Moss' solo homer off Stephen Strasburg.

The Nationals were starting to look like they might be in trouble against Wacha, who retired the side in the first and second innings, with only one ball leaving the infield. Wilson Ramos did draw a leadoff walk in the third, giving the Nats their first baserunner of the afternoon, but he never made it past second base.

If this sounds eerily familiar, it should. Back in September 2013, then-rookie Wacha was one out from no-hitting the Nationals at Busch Stadium, only to watch as Zimmerman beat out a chopper over the mound with two outs in the ninth to ruin history.

Wacha had faced the Nats three times in his career prior to today, during which time he allowed only two earned runs in 22 2/3 innings.

The Cardinals have had more success against Strasburg so far this afternoon, though the right-hander has done well to limit the damage. Despite allowing four singles through his first three innings, Strasburg kept St. Louis from scoring, thanks in part to three strikeouts with men on base.

He couldn't escape damage in the fourth, though, when he left a 3-2 changeup over the plate to Moss and spun around to see the ball make a beeline for the second deck down the right field line.

Update: It's still 3-1 after six innings, with Strasburg settling into a nice groove. He has scattered six hits and two walks, striking out four. With his pitch count a bit high at 104, though, he might not be out there much longer. He'll start the seventh, but Oliver Perez is warming.

Update II: Well, the complexion (and the score) of this game changed dramatically during the seventh inning. It's now 8-2 Nats. No, really. The Cardinals got a run in the top of the inning, which including three Nats relievers and a nice escape job by Felipe Rivero (who stranded the tying run at third base). But then the Nats got five runs back in the bottom of the inning. Anthony Rendon ambushed reliever Jonathan Broxton with a first-pitch homer off the top of the wall in right-center. Jayson Werth later came up to pinch-hit with the bases loaded and proceeded to launch a grand slam to center field, leaving the crowd of 38,898 roaring and seeking a curtain call from the bearded one. (Werth obliged.) It took 48 minutes, start to finish, but the seventh inning is now complete, and the Nats appear to be in complete control.

Update III: It's over. Nats win 10-2 after Wilson Ramos tacked on with a two-run homer in the eighth. Jonathan Papelbon closed it out in a non-save situation, giving the Nats a four-game split and a 3-4 record on the homestand. Now it's off to Philly, followed by Cincinnati and the south side of Chicago.