Cardinals get to Nats in second inning again (Nats walk off with 3-2 win)

The Cardinals' hottest hitter connected with a big hit to start the second inning against Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg to open the scoring.

Matt Adams' double led off the second frame, and was followed by a Yadier Molina single. Strasburg got back in the inning by getting Jhonny Peralta to ground into a double play, but Adams scored from third to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.

After a Mark Ellis single, Peter Bourjos struck out to end the threat.

Bryce Harper started Sunday, the day after he was pulled by manager Matt Williams in the sixth inning for not running ou a grounder all the way to first base. Harper grounded to shortstop in his first at-bat and ran hard to first before the out was recorded. He also made a nice catch of a Jon Jay liner for the second out in the first inning.

Update: Card starter Shelby Miller had some control issues, but got through a big jam unscathed in the third. Miller walked the bases loaded, with Strasburg, Harper and Jayson Werth reaching base, the last with two outs. But he managed to strike out Adam LaRoche to close out the inning. The Cardinals lead 1-0 after three.

Update II: Despite four walks, Miller did not allow a base hit until Danny Espinosa's clean single to right with two outs in the fourth. Jose Lobaton then slapped a single to left field. Strasburg struck out to end the opportunity. St. Louis leads 1-0 after four.

Update III: What is with the Cardinals pitchers' batting prowess in this series? Miller's run-scoring double in the fifth off of Strasburg extended St. Louis' lead to 2-0.

Adam Wainwright had a single, a double and a run scored on Thursday. Lance Lynn also had an RBI double on Saturday.

Update IV: The Nationals loaded the bases again in the sixth inning. After a fielding error by Cardinals third baseman Matt Carpenter allowed pinch-hitter Zach Walters to reach first and load the bases, Denard Span grounded into a force out at home plate and Harper grounded to short to end the inning. The Cardinals still lead 2-0 after six innings. The Nationals have left 10 men on base the past four innings.

Update V: The Nationals finally broke through in the seventh. Stringing together four straight singles, the Nats tied the game at 2-2.

LaRoche, Anthony Rendon, Ian Desmond and Espinosa provided base hits off of Cardinals reliever Carlos Martinez. Groundouts by Lobaton and Kevin Frandsen ended the rally, but it was still a big inning for the Nationals against the Cardinals relief corps, and the game is tied.

Update VI: The Nats had plenty of chances and stranded 17 runners on base, but did so in a win.

Washington was able to push the winning run across in the ninth with Span coming through with the walk-off sacrifice fly, scoring Espinosa from third for a 3-2 victory and series split.

After Desmond struck out to start the inning against reliever Seth Maness, Espinosa and Lobaton singled to put runners on the corners. Nate McLouth drew a walk to load the bases.

After falling behind 1-2 in the count, Span ended a seven-pitch at-bat with his sac fly to left, and that was a wrap.