Rough start for Nats in opener vs. Cards (St. Louis wins 8-0)

It's been a shaky start for the Nationals, who trail 3-0.

Matt Carpenter reached first base in the top of the first when shortstop Ian Desmond bobbled a grounder right to him. Kolten Wong was safe with a single when Taylor Jordan could not get the ball out of his glove in time for the toss to first baseman Adam LaRoche.

With two men on, Matt Holliday's RBI double made it 1-0. Matt Adams followed with a run-scoring grounder and Yadier Molina slapped a RBI single to left. Suddenly, it was 3-0 Cardinals.

Adam Wainwright made quick work of the Nationals in the bottom of the first, with a 1-2-3 inning, including a called third strike on Jayson Werth.

Update: The Cardinals added to their lead in the fourth due to Nats fielding miscues.

Jhonny Peralta smacked a one-out double to start the rally. Jon Jay reached on another error by Desmond. A grounder to Desmond by Wainwright appeared to be a good chance at an out at second base, but Danny Espinosa was called for a dropping the ball on the transfer and Jay was safe. Peralta scored on the play and the Cardinals led 4-0.

The Nationals have committed three errors in the game and now have a major league-leading 19 this season.

Update II: Denard Span, who is on the seven-day concussion disabled list, played five innings in center field for the low Single-A Hagerstown Suns in their game against Lakewood tonight. Span went 1-for-2, with two walks, one RBI and three runs scored. He can come off the disabled list Saturday.

Update III: The Cardinals chased Jordan in the sixth. After hitting Jay with a pitch, Desmond could not get Jay at second base on a swift grounder and had no play at first, so Wainwright was safe. A walk to Carpenter and Jordan's night was done.

Blake Treinen then allowed a RBI single to Holliday and a two-run double to Adams. The Cardinals led 7-0.

Update IV: The Cardinals added a run in the seventh with three more hits. Wong's run-scoring single off Treinen made it 8-0. The Nationals offense has recorded 13 consecutive outs and has been held to one hit.

Update V: Jordan (0-2) is tagged with the loss. He finished 5 1/3 innings, allowing seven runs (five earned) on seven hits, walking two and striking out four.

The Nationals have lost eight straight to the Cardinals and have been outscored 22-8 in their last three games. It is the first time they have been shut out this season. They managed just two hits against Wainwright (3-1).

Final score: Cardinals 8, Nationals 0.