Bullpen Blows Lead, Cardinals Lose 8-6 To Nationals

Jason Motte was among a trio of relievers that coughed up
a seventh inning lead in the Cardinals loss to the Nationals
on Tuesday night. - Photo courtesy of Getty Images

Jamie Garcia was absolutely brilliant on Tuesday night.  The St. Louis Cardinals left-hander allowed just two runs on eight hits while striking out seven hitters.  Garcia even managed to pitch around two untimely errors by shortstop Ryan Theriot before exiting the game after six innings with the Cardinals in the lead 6-2.

While Garcia was able to pitch around Theriot's defensive errors, there was nothing the lefty could do while he watched the Cardinals bullpen implode and allow six runs in the seventh giving the Washington Nationals the lead for good and the Cardinals an 8-6 loss.

Miguel Batista, Trevor Miller, and Jason Motte combined to allow five and three walks in the seventh inning that wasted Garcia's brilliant effort.  Batista was particularly brutal as he started the inning giving up four hits and a walk before exiting with two outs in the inning.

The bullpen and defense have been major concerns for the Cardinals since opening day and both reared their ugly head in the loss on Tuesday.

Not all was ugly for the Cardinals as Albert Pujols and Lance Berkman both stayed hot offensively.  Pujols hit a two run home run in the first inning, his 15th of the season.  Berkman hit a solo shot in the fourth inning, giving Berkman 17 bombs on the season.

Berkman came to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning with runners on first and second.  But the switch hitting slugger grounded back to the Nationals closer Drew Storen to end the game.

The loss is the fourth in a row for the Cardinals who were coming off a brutal weekend that saw them get swept by the Milwaukee Brewers.

Sources:

• Box Score - June 14th - Washington Nationals 8 St. Louis Cardinals 6
• Lance Berkman 2011 stats

Follow STLSportsMinute on Twitter!