51ºÚÁÏ

The waiting game left some position players in a spot where they “weren’t getting hot� before it became clear the game was going to be played, requiring them to “ramp up� ahead of first pitch. For starter Sonny Gray, he said he slowed down and intensified his pregame activity at least three times during a 139-minute delay.

Despite the “weird circumstance� caused by the inclement weather, the Cardinals (49-43) provided a response to the lengthy wait and the early hole they were in against Washington. Their answer to the adversity began with a three-run bottom of the third inning highlighted by a game-tying homer from All-Star second baseman Brendan Donovan. It was followed by shutdown outings from the bullpen after Gray’s exit following five innings in a 4-2 win over Washington.

“Like I said, a weird day,� Gray said after the Cardinals beat the Nationals in two hours and 21 minutes following a 9:04 p.m. first pitch. “It was a nice win. But for us, we won the game tonight when I gave it up in third (inning) and we immediately responded. … When we responded, you knew that was it for us.�

Trailing 2-0 heading into the bottom of the third inning, the Cardinals received a jump-start to their half of the frame when Victor Scott II hit a leadoff ground-rule double to right field. One pitch later, Donovan belted his game-tying homer on the first pitch he saw. Six pitches after Nationals starter Jake Irvin allowed Donovan to homer, Alec Burleson gave the Cardinals a lead with an RBI double into the right field corner that scored Masyn Winn from first base after Winn singled.

“When we're at our best, I think we're having just really competitive at-bats,� Donovan said. “And I think that's where the pressure goes on them. Try to grind that guy down and get him out of there early, and then try to scratch a few. I think that's just what this group tries to do every day.�

To help kick off their final home stand before the All-Star break with a win, the Cardinals received scoreless relief outings from Steven Matz (one inning), Phil Maton (one inning), and JoJo Romero (one inning).

The bullpen’s effort to protect a one-run lead that turned into two runs when Lars Nootbaar homered in the sixth inning was bookended by closer Ryan Helsley’s 18th save of the year.

“We weren't sure if we were getting this one in,� Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said. “The guys stayed ready. It was good to answer back immediately after those two (runs). Our (bullpen), the way we used them before the (Monday) off day, we had to use the guys we used today, and we wanted to make sure we had the lead, so it's good to get that three spot after they scored two. It was good to take this one.�

Gray was on turn to start Wednesday ahead of Andre Pallante before the Cardinals adjusted their rotation Monday. Gray (9-3) completed five innings and struck out six batters on a season-low 70 pitches before Matz replaced him in the sixth. Gray collected two strikeouts in his first two innings before singles by CJ Abrams and All-Star James Wood, a walk to Jacob Young, and a force out from Luis Garcia Jr. added up two runs in the third inning.

Working with dips in his velocity and a sweeper that got four whiffs and a ground ball that led to an inning-ending double play in the fourth, Gray said he “clearly didn’t have my best stuff or anything close to it tonight after the long delay.�

The right-hander’s 70 pitches were his fewest in a game since he threw 64 during a start vs. Philadelphia last season. Following his fifth inning of work for an outing that required a lengthy wait, Gray told Marmol he had given all he could.

“I’m done. I have nothing. I just don't have anything,� Gray said of his in-game conversation with Marmol.

With their high leverage arms rested following a day off on Monday and an 11-0 loss to the Cubs on Sunday, the three Cardinals relievers who recorded a hold in the series-opening win combined to keep Nationals hitters to two hits and one walk from the sixth inning through the eighth.

Matz capped his lone inning with a double play on a ground ball from Brady House. To build off Maton's 1-2-3 inning, Romero worked around a leadoff single by striking out Wood, getting Amed Rosario to line out, and freezing Nathaniel Lowe on a 3-2 slider to end an eight-pitch encounter that began with Romero behind in a 2-0 count.

“We knew Sonny would be a little shorter today just based on the delay and everything that goes into today,� Marmol said. “... For (Matz) to be able to go out there and get his lane, and then it set up Maton, (Romero), and (Helsley) to get theirs was important. But they all did a really nice job.�