Piscotty's slam leads Cards past Nationals

WASHINGTON -- Stephen Piscotty hit a grand slam off Max Scherzer during a five-run third inning and Jaime Garcia quieted the Washington Nationals lineup as the St. Louis Cardinals won 6-2 on Friday night.

Coming off consecutive ineffective starts, Garcia held Washington to two runs and seven hits over seven innings. The Cardinals had lost four of five.

Scherzer allowed two earned runs in each of his previous three starts including his 20-strikeout gem on May 11 in a victory over Detroit. That version didn't show early against St. Louis. He walked four batters and allowed five runs, all by the third inning. Scherzer surrendered three hits over seven innings.

Danny Espinosa's second home run in as many games broke up Garcia's shutout bid in the fifth.