Euro 2024: Schedule, How To Watch, Squads, Groups, Reaction
WASHINGTON -- — Willson Contreras hit his second homer of the series and the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Washington Nationals 8-3 on Sunday.
Contreras hit a line drive 395-foot homer off Nationals reliever Derek Law in the seventh. He also singled and scored twice with three RBI. The two-run shot was his ninth of the season and third homer in the past five days. Contreras said he recently switched from 33.75 inch to 34-inch bat.
“He got me a little out front," Contreras said. "But I used a (34-inch bat) and I was able to stay through the zone long which helped me to make contact with that curveball right there. Because being honest, I wasn’t looking for curveball at all.”
Nolan Gorman added a single, double and two RBI. Gorman has enjoyed his stay in D.C. this weekend, going seven for his last 11 after a 6-for-69 (.087) slump from June 12-July 4. He has reached base safely in 46 of his last 50 games.
Nolan Arenado has also had a great series against the Nationals. The veteran third baseman had a two-run single in the three-run fifth inning. He has seven hits in the series.
“There was a decent amount of fight in them yesterday," Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said on the bounce back following 14-6 loss Saturday. "Today some really good at-bats. We’d been missing out on that two-out big hit to score a couple and Arenado came through there and drove the baseball to score two. Gorman is starting to feel better, you see him stay on some balls, which is awesome. Contreras with the homer. Overall, really good day.”
The Cardinals have won five of their last seven and have the best record in the National League since May 12 at 32-18 (.640).
Kyle Gibson (7-3) finished five innings plus three batters, allowing three runs on nine hits with eight strikeouts and two walks on 96 pitches, 61 for strikes. In his first win in three starts at Nationals Park, Gibson has now won three of his last four dating to June 14.
“My stuff was consistent again," Gibson said. "Curveball was maybe my best pitch and that doesn’t happen very often so that’s probably why you saw a little bit more of them. That’s something I worked a lot on in the bullpen.”
Three Cardinals relievers combined to record the final four scoreless frames.
Brendan Donovan singled and walked to extend his on-base streak to 20 games.
Fresh off a 10-strikeout performance against the Mets July 2, Nationals starter DJ Herz could not replicate that outing Sunday. Herz (1-3) lasted 4 1/3 innings, allowing five runs, four earned, on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts on 102 pitches, 65 for strikes.
“There were a lot of uncontrollables," Herz said. "But the one thing I could control was the two-out walk, and obviously the other walks. The walks came back to hurt me today, and that’s something I can control.”
Jesse Winker with two doubles and RBI for the Nationals, who have lost nine of their last 13.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbar (oblique strain) is nearing a return. He has been playing rehab games for Double-A Springfield, going 2-for-5 with a homer Friday night.
“I talked to him last night, he felt good,” Marmol said. “They’re obviously off today and tomorrow. We will talk to him again today and see what’s next.”
Nationals No. 3 prospect third baseman Brady House has been promoted to Triple-A Rochester. House, the 11th overall selection in the 2021 first-year amateur draft, hit .234 with 11 doubles, one triple, 13 homers and 34 RBI in 75 games at Double-A Harrisburg.
UP NEXT
Cardinals send veteran right-hander Miles Mikolas (6-7, 5.19 ERA) against Nationals fourth straight left-handed starter, Mitchell Parker (5-4, 3.61), in the series finale Monday afternoon.
------
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
71tNSFG4TTL. AC SL1500 4662ff82 A8ea 4de5 84cb 1041cdcd3e3a.598d04802cefea5fb2fe7bc86ba051ae ?odnWidth=1000&odnHeight=1000&odnBg=ffffffBbdeabcc 62b0 4a21 95bf Ef83c574cbcb.1ef497961c507cc9d84fb54606cc826f 16bfa05a 6b51 49f3 943c 9e076661a6c0.55c5c50c3b20135486a818f224b9a713 ?odnWidth=1000&odnHeight=1000&odnBg=ffffffC54936be C385 4dc4 Abe6 967e28802cca.de518d7f6430796468b669a54354680a ?odnWidth=1000&odnHeight=1000&odnBg=ffffffProd 4887327426?src=https Image.virventures.com VEVO ZD1145X2540X15MMV0 2 &d=ade71c1e5678029a5d7077eaf924029b3000b888&hei=333&wid=333&op Sharpen=151THEWtGx8L. AC A2 C4cc9cf0 58be 43bb Be41 5d6e4cc2f177.b7d0dcd3f5f0a14970dfff8686a5a5eb A6 61tB3R3caXL. AC SL1000 71dNisW5mJL. AC SL1001 Bbf5142f5015333a8c1009c03a26cdb2 078275148697 524ab0e2 E674 4819 93dc A4b54c17ba87.17bae75ff4796e9505497cf0f88b358f 4bdcba51 2f16 4a85 B121 0ad11c5b6936 1.e97ac4dd260085b1b3ef229e22e01364 71htXvoUagL. AC SL1500 A8f27cd1 9407 499c 9010 F757ce4c08d7 1.4c7e8c8fc5959ed12a227c5147dd6de0 71p91evS L. AC UY654 QL65 51bd6af%2B RL. AC SL1024 3e2edb24 Bb51 4a75 9138 5935c0056eba.b52912cbf950a88df89ae8a04bde1ccc Temp Image 10129 81YeHYwNA7L. SL1500 81DgTVTxaBL. AC SL1500 11 Amazing Folding Console Table For 2023 1698238925 715QY%2B7OnJL. AC SL1500 13 Best Table Protector For Dining Room Table For 2023 1696345507 71DGxdfVNqL. AC SL1500 VPC3Z16C900A 0 The Beekeeper FOLDED 1536x1268 Tablepad Closeup3 W1920 O Maxresdefault 2M Table Edge Cushion Cover Protector Furniture Desk Guard Strip Bumper Softener 4 Colors Baby Safety
Euro 2024: Schedule, How To Watch, Squads, Groups, Reaction
WASHINGTON -- — Willson Contreras hit his second homer of the series and the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Washington Nationals 8-3 on Sunday.
Contreras hit a line drive 395-foot homer off Nationals reliever Derek Law in the seventh. He also singled and scored twice with three RBI. The two-run shot was his ninth of the season and third homer in the past five days. Contreras said he recently switched from 33.75 inch to 34-inch bat.
“He got me a little out front," Contreras said. "But I used a (34-inch bat) and I was able to stay through the zone long which helped me to make contact with that curveball right there. Because being honest, I wasn’t looking for curveball at all.”
Nolan Gorman added a single, double and two RBI. Gorman has enjoyed his stay in D.C. this weekend, going seven for his last 11 after a 6-for-69 (.087) slump from June 12-July 4. He has reached base safely in 46 of his last 50 games.
Nolan Arenado has also had a great series against the Nationals. The veteran third baseman had a two-run single in the three-run fifth inning. He has seven hits in the series.
“There was a decent amount of fight in them yesterday," Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol said on the bounce back following 14-6 loss Saturday. "Today some really good at-bats. We’d been missing out on that two-out big hit to score a couple and Arenado came through there and drove the baseball to score two. Gorman is starting to feel better, you see him stay on some balls, which is awesome. Contreras with the homer. Overall, really good day.”
The Cardinals have won five of their last seven and have the best record in the National League since May 12 at 32-18 (.640).
Kyle Gibson (7-3) finished five innings plus three batters, allowing three runs on nine hits with eight strikeouts and two walks on 96 pitches, 61 for strikes. In his first win in three starts at Nationals Park, Gibson has now won three of his last four dating to June 14.
“My stuff was consistent again," Gibson said. "Curveball was maybe my best pitch and that doesn’t happen very often so that’s probably why you saw a little bit more of them. That’s something I worked a lot on in the bullpen.”
Three Cardinals relievers combined to record the final four scoreless frames.
Brendan Donovan singled and walked to extend his on-base streak to 20 games.
Fresh off a 10-strikeout performance against the Mets July 2, Nationals starter DJ Herz could not replicate that outing Sunday. Herz (1-3) lasted 4 1/3 innings, allowing five runs, four earned, on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts on 102 pitches, 65 for strikes.
“There were a lot of uncontrollables," Herz said. "But the one thing I could control was the two-out walk, and obviously the other walks. The walks came back to hurt me today, and that’s something I can control.”
Jesse Winker with two doubles and RBI for the Nationals, who have lost nine of their last 13.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbar (oblique strain) is nearing a return. He has been playing rehab games for Double-A Springfield, going 2-for-5 with a homer Friday night.
“I talked to him last night, he felt good,” Marmol said. “They’re obviously off today and tomorrow. We will talk to him again today and see what’s next.”
Nationals No. 3 prospect third baseman Brady House has been promoted to Triple-A Rochester. House, the 11th overall selection in the 2021 first-year amateur draft, hit .234 with 11 doubles, one triple, 13 homers and 34 RBI in 75 games at Double-A Harrisburg.
UP NEXT
Cardinals send veteran right-hander Miles Mikolas (6-7, 5.19 ERA) against Nationals fourth straight left-handed starter, Mitchell Parker (5-4, 3.61), in the series finale Monday afternoon.
------
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
