ST. LOUIS — Cardinals reliever Marc Rzepczynski gave up a two-run, two-out pinch-hit single by Tyler Moore in the eighth inning as the Washington Nationals rallied for a 3-2 victory over St. Louis in Game 1 of the National League Division Series Sunday.
Moore's hit came after an error by St. Louis shortstop Pete Kozma on a grounder by Michael Morse, a single by Ian Desmond, a sacrifice bunt and a strikeout by St. Louis reliever Mitchell Boggs.
Cardinals manager Mike Matheny summoned Rzepczynski to face pinch-hitter Chad Tracy, but Moore batted instead and singled on a 2-2 pitch to right.
The Cardinals had managed only two runs on three hits, and were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
"You know what? Tomorrow we have to win," said the Cardinals' Carlos Beltran. "We have to leave this place with an even series."
Game 2 of the best-of-five series is set for 3:37 p.m. Monday at Busch Stadium. The series then moves to Washington for three games Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, if needed.
The Redbirds got their only runs when they drew four walks from Gio Gonzalez in the second inning -- scoring on a bases-loaded wild pitch with Cardinals starter Adam Wainwright at the plate, and on Jon Jay's sacrifice fly -- to wipe out a 1-0 Nationals' lead in the top of the inning.
The Cardinals failed to score with the bases loaded and nobody out in the seventh. Allen Craig hit into a 6-2 forceout at home, and Yadier Molina rolled into a 5-4-3 double play.
Wainwright allowed one run on six hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings, striking out 10, as he left with a one-run lead in the sixth. The double-digit strikeouts were the most by a Cardinal pitcher in the post-season since Bob Gibson fanned 10 Detroit hitters on Oct. 6, 1968 in Game 4 of the World Series that year.
Gonzalez gave up the two runs on one hit and seven walks in five innings, striking out five and throwing a wild pitch.
In the second, he walked Molina, Daniel Descalso and Pete Kozma before the wild pitch to Wainwright, tying the game, then walked the Cardinals pitcher before Jay hit a sac fly to left field to put St. Louis ahead.
The teams matched zeroes the next three innings, leaving the Redbirds with a 2-1 lead in the sixth inning, hoping to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
The Nationals drew first blood with a run in the top of the second. Kurt Suzuki singled home Adam La Roche with two outs as the Nationals sent seven men to the plate against Wainwright.
First pitch was at 2:08 p.m. before a sellout crowd of 47,078, with a gametime temperature of 54 degrees under a cloudless sky.
A capacity crowd at Busch Stadium cheered loudly for the Cardinals, waving white rally towels handed out at the turnstiles.
