Drew ignites offense and defense in Nats comeback win

With starting shortstop Trea Turner placed on the 10-day disabled list, the Nationals lineup had to be shifted.

Adam Eaton was moved up to the leadoff spot. It also meant that manager Dusty Baker would have to decide who would play shortstop.

Baker had said before Monday's opener against the Cardinals that Stephen Drew would start the first and third games of the series. Youngster Wilmer Difo would start Tuesday night.

Maybe Baker will reconsider that platoon after Drew's 3-for-4, four RBI night in a 14-6 comeback win for the Nationals over St. Louis.

The Nats have come back to win three of their first four victories this season. The four RBIs are the most ever for Drew in a Nationals uniform. He had four RBIs against the Braves on August 30, 2015, while with the Yankees.

The 34-year-old Drew connected on a double, two singles and an RBI sac fly. He also started a game-changing 6-4-3 double play that sparked the Nats comeback in the top of the fifth.

Bryce Harper, who went 4-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs scored himself, appreciates the value a player like Drew can bring to this club when one of the starters goes down with an injury. Harper reacted to Drew deciding to come back and sign with the Nats again when some teams could have offered potential starting spots.

"I think that goes to show how much he likes this team and how much he thinks we have an opportunity to win," Harper said. "What a great teammate and person on and off the field, and no better guy that you want to root on every single night, so loved seeing him go out there and do what he did tonight. Had some great at-bats and I don't know how many RBIs or hits he had, but did a great job tonight and came through for us big time."

Drew recognized how big a team win it was. Harper had four hits. Adam Eaton, Ryan Zimmerman and Drew himself each had three hits. Matt Wieters and Jayson Werth each contributed a pair of base knocks. Drew had the game-high four RBIs. But Eaton, Harper and pinch-hitter Adam Lind combined for eight RBIs.

Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright (0-2) allowed 11 hits and six runs (five earned) in four innings (plus three batters).

"Everybody had quality at-bats," Drew said. "That's what Eaton (did), and you look at Harper's night, Zim, J-Dub, and you can just keep going down. It's all the way through. We worked the count, got ahead and just got our pitch. And we were able to get some hits off him.

"We've got a long ways to go. But it's good to come out here tonight and do what we did tonight after Philly. So we're going to take the night and soak it in and come ready to play tomorrow."

The team committed four errors. Drew had one of them on a bobble. But he did have a big-time double play that his teammates Tanner Roark and Eaton believed started the comeback.

"The name of the game is, we're not going to be perfect every night," Drew said. "We would love to be able to do that, but it's part of the game. We bounce back, and we just got some really good timely hitting and good at-bats all night. It's fun to watch."