Washington Nationals at St. Louis Cardinals

Thomas' RBI single lifts Nationals to 7-5 win over Cardinals in 10 innings

Thomas’ single scored Alex Call to break a 5-5 tie. CJ Abrams scored an insurance run on a double play for the Nationals in the game that was resumed after rain halted play Friday night in the third inning.

“There’s a big hole at second base, so just chased the slider and I’m just trying to stay on whatever he threw, you know, a little bit longer,” Thomas said. “Got a good piece of it.”

Kyle Finnegan (4-3) earned the decision with two innings of relief. Hunter Harvey earned his ninth save in 14 opportunities.

“It was an all-around good day for our guys,” Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. “I wish we had won a little bit early, but the bullpen came in and held it down, so we played well.”

Jordan Hicks (1-6) took the loss for the Cardinals.

The Nationals broke a 1-1 tie with three runs scored without a hit in the fifth inning. A pair of Andre Pallante walks set up the rally and Dominic Smith scored on a fielder’s choice after advancing to third on a Pallante wild pitch. Willson Contreras had two throwing errors, the second of which allowed Luis García to score, and Nolan Arenado’s throwing error — the third St. Louis miscue of the frame — allowed Abrams to score to make it 4-1.

“You put pressure on the defense, good things are going to happen,” Abrams said. “Stay aggressive and keep it going.”

A Joey Meneses RBI single off Pallante evened the game in the fourth when it resumed. Meneses added an RBI double in the eighth.

“I think I find myself loading a little bit earlier in the at bat, and I think that’s helped me be a little bit better prepared for the fastball and the off-speed as well, and I think that’s just it,” Meneses said through an interpreter. “I am just loading a little quicker during my at bat.”

Brendan Donovan drew the Cardinals even with a three-run homer off Corey Abbott in the bottom of the fifth. Contreras tied the game at 5-5 with a solo homer off Kyle Finnegan in the eighth.

“We just can’t make that many mistakes in a game and win,” Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “It’s tough to overcome those, we continue to make them, so it puts us in a really tough position.”

The Cardinals jumped out to a 1-0 lead Friday night when Lars Nootbaar homered in the first inning off Trevor Williams.

St. Louis starter Miles Mikolas had retired all nine Washington batters he faced before the game was halted with Paul Goldschmidt at the plate with a 3-2 count and two outs in the third.

The game was suspended after a delay of approximately 90 minutes.

The Cardinals will start left-hander Steven Matz (0-7, 4.65 ERA) in the second game of the double header Saturday night. The Nationals will counter with right-hander Jake Irvin (2-5, 4.60 ERA).

The Nationals have won four of their last five series and have a chance to extend that streak in the nightcap.

“I think it has to do with the unity of the team,” Meneses said. “You know, we know what we can and can’t do. And we just try to go out there and do the best possible and hopefully the outcome is in our favor.”

TRAINER’S ROOM

Nationals: 3B Jeimer Candelario left the game in the first inning with a bone bruise on his right thumb.

Cardinals: OF Tyler O’Neill (left lower back strain) is playing three-straight games at Triple-A Memphis and could return next week.

UP NEXT

The Cardinals will start RHP Jack Flaherty (6-5, 4.27 ERA) against the Nationals and RHP Josiah Gray (6-7, 3.41 ERA) in the finale of their three-game series on Sunday. Flaherty has not given up a run in his last two starts spanning 12 2/3 total innings. Gray tossed a scoreless third inning in the All-Star game on Tuesday and has a 2.20 ERA and 20 strikeouts in his last three starts.

How can I watch Washington Nationals vs. St. Louis Cardinals?

• TV Channel: Nationals at Cardinals 2022 MLB Baseball, is broadcasted on MLB.tv.
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