Nats open daunting stretch with 6-3 loss to Cards (updated)

They slogged their way through a rough stretch against less-intimidating competition, and now the Nationals were opening a 13-game stretch against three division leaders and another team that came within one game of reaching the World Series last fall.

It's going to require improvement in all facets of the game for the Nats to emerge successful from this daunting stretch. And though they got some much needed improvement in one key area - the bullpen - tonight, it meant little when their starter got beat around during one painful inning and their lineup couldn't get anything going after one early explosion.

This 6-3 loss the Cardinals was about as simple as they get. The Nats scored three quick runs off Michael Wacha but couldn't do anything else the rest of the way. St. Louis struggled vs. Patrick Corbin but then busted out for six runs in the top of the fifth. And then not much else of consequence happened the rest of the way.

It all added up to the Nationals' ninth loss in 10 series openers this season. And a harsh reminder just how difficult the next few weeks are going to be for a team that hasn't come close to playing its best baseball yet in 2019.

"Some people see mountains, they get kind of daunted," right fielder Adam Eaton said. "We're excited to climb the mountain. We talked about it ever since spring training: If you want to be really good in this league, you have to beat the best teams. So, we're getting tested early and we're going to find out what we're made out of right off the bat. And I think the guys in here wouldn't have it any other way."

What about that 1-9 record in series openers? The Nationals are well aware of it. They just don't see a recurring theme to explain it.

"You can't pinpoint anything," second baseman Brian Dozier said. "We're prepared better than any team. We've got a lot of guys that prepare better than anybody I've seen in my career. That's definitely not the issue. It's just the fact of winning the game. I know it's pretty simple to say and weird to hear, but that's all it is."

There was one bright spot tonight: The bullpen churned out four more scoreless innings on top of Sunday's eight scoreless frames during an 11-inning win over the Padres. In the span of about 30 hours, Nationals relievers have lowered their collective ERA from 7.34 to 6.25.

If only the resurgence contributed to a win tonight, something that looked more than plausible after two innings.

Making his first start after a brief stint on the injured list, Wacha labored early. The Nationals lineup did a nice job making the right-hander work, especially during a long bottom of the second that included three runs, three hits and two walks, one of those during an awfully impressive at-bat by the pitcher.

Corbin stepped up to bat with the bases loaded and two out, fell behind in the count 0-2 and then battled his way back through a nine-pitch at-bat that ended with him trotting down the first base line and Matt Adams trotting towards the plate following the run-scoring walk.

"Just trying to make it tough on them," Corbin said. "Trying to put the bat on the ball, really. Wasn't trying to do much. Just fouled off some pitches and worked a walk."

When Eaton poked a two-run single to the opposite field moments later to extend the lead to 3-0, the Nationals appeared to be in business and Wacha appeared to be in line for a short night.

The second part of the equation did prove somewhat true. Wacha only lasted five innings, throwing 101 pitches. But the Nationals did nothing else against him.

"I think those middle innings, we've just got to add on some more runs there," manager Davey Martinez said. "We always seem to come back and we score early, then we seem to come back later on. The middle innings, we've got to keep pounding and get the starter out early."

It wouldn't have been that big a problem tonight, except for the fact the Cardinals put a hurting on Corbin in the top of the fifth. The lefty had been effective (if not efficient) to that point, getting through four scoreless innings on 60 pitches. But then it all fell apart in the fifth. And quickly.

Harrison Bader got things started with a solo homer to center, the latest in what it seems is a nightly highlight reel play from the .190-hitting Cardinals center fielder whenever he plays the Nationals. Even so, Corbin was still in good shape, with two outs and nobody on.

But then he loaded the bases on two walks and a single. A high fastball skipped off Yan Gomes' mitt to allow one run to score. Then three consecutive base hits by Marcell Ozuna, José Martínez and Yadier Molina each brought home at least one more run, bringing the total to six for the inning.

"I was happy with how my stuff was," Corbin said. "Just with two outs there, lefty up, gotta just do a better job there. Didn't really throw too many close pitches there, and they were able to start a rally."

As this all played out and Corbin's pitch count skyrocketed, the Nationals bullpen sprang into action. But because pitching coach Derek Lilliquist had already made one mound visit, Corbin was left to stall for time on his own, making two token pickoff throws to first with the slow-footed Molina on base and zero threat to steal.

Corbin managed to get out of the inning, but the damage was done. And what looked like it was going to be a stellar night on the mound (and at the plate) for the lefty had turned decidedly sour.

"He's been really good," Martinez said. "It's just one of those nights for Pat. I just told him: 'Hey, you'll be right back out there in five days, so don't worry about it."