Zimmerman homers twice, doubles as Nationals beat Cardinals

ST. LOUIS -- Ryan Zimmerman homered twice, then doubled home the tiebreaking run in the eighth inning as the Washington Nationals ended their nine-game losing streak at St. Louis, beating the Cardinals 4-3 Wednesday night.

Zimmerman reached 200 career home runs with his second shot. Jayson Werth also homered for the Nationals.

Nationals starter Max Scherzer struck out 11, gave up 11 hits and left with a 3-2 lead after the sixth.

Johnathon Papelbon earned his 23rd save in 23 chances, escaping a first-and-third, one-out jam in the ninth. Rafael Martin (1-0) got one out for his first career victory.

Johnathan Broxton (1-4) took the loss.

Brandon Moss hit a 454-foot homer for St. Louis, which leads the Pirates by six games with 29 to play in the NL Central.

Kolten Wong had three hits for the Cardinals in their second loss in 11 games.

Moss ended Wednesday night's game in the ninth with a three-run homer. He led the second against Scherzer with the longest home run by a left-hander at 10-year-old Busch Stadium and the fifth-longest overall.

The Nationals answered with homers by Werth in the third and drives by Zimmerman in the fourth and sixth.

Zimmerman has 16 homers in an injury-abbreviated season, four in this series.

Trainer's room

Nationals: Bryce Harper (left glute tightness) was removed before the bottom of the fourth after going 0 for 2. ... Tanner Roark will replace Stephen Strasburg (back) in the rotation Friday against Atlanta. Strasburg is scheduled for a bullpen session today and could pitch as soon as Saturday. ... OF Michael Taylor (right knee soreness) was a late lineup scratch.

Cardinals: Outfielder Jon Jay (wrist) is close to returning to a now-crowded outfield.

Up next

Nationals: Jordan Zimmermann (11-8, 3.45) has won his last three starts and faces the Braves at home.

Cardinals: Carlos Martinez (13-6, 2.91) faces the Pirates Friday to begin a weekend series with two extra days of rest. He's 2-1 with a 4.35 ERA against Pittsburgh, much better than Lance Lynn, 0-2 and 6.94. Lynn (ankle) is getting extra time.