Nationals vs. Cardinals: Game Washed Out, Nationals Prepare For Day-Night Doubleheader

Ominous, black clouds started to roll into the St. Louis area around 8 P.M and approximately 131 minutes later, the game between the Washington Nationals and St. Louis Cardinals was cancelled. Heavy rain, heavy winds and even some hail pounded Busch Stadium for two hours and eleven minutes and made a moat of water on the warning track. At one point even tornado alarms were sounded as a caution.

The Nationals now prepare for their second doubleheader of the season on Wednesday, a day-night variety, which will also be the second doubleheader the Nationals have had in four days. Game 1 will take place at 2:15 P.M. EST and Game 2 will be at 8:15 P.M. EST. The pitching rotation remains on schedule. John Lannan will take the mound in Game1 for the Nats while Jordan Zimmermann will toe the mound in the nightcap.

On Sunday the Nationals swept a classic doubleheader against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Nationals vs. Cardinals: Game Has A Delayed Start As Bad Weather Moves In

The first game of a three game series between the Washington Nationals and the St. Louis Cardinals has been delayed due to a series of severe storms moving through the St. Louis area. The game was originally scheduled to start at 8:15 P.M. EST.

There is no set game start time now as the teams begin to wait out the storm. According to weather reports the storm will be moving into St. Louis throughout the night with the peak hitting the city around approximately 9 P.M. EST.

The Nationals have already had one game this season cancelled due to bad weather. Their contest with the Milwaukee Brewers on April 16th at Nationals Park was called off which set up the first doubleheader of the year the next day on April 17th.

The Nationals John Lannan is set to do battle with the Cardinals Jake Westbrook as soon as the storms subside.

Nationals Vs. Cardinals: Nationals Look To Keep St. Louis Grounded

The Washington Nationals are taking their NL-leading three-game win streak on the road to the City of the Gateway Arch to take on the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. The Nats spent the past weekend completing a three-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers, including winning both games of a Sunday doubleheader.

The Nationals used a potent mixture of great starting pitching from Tom Gorzelanny, Jason Marquis and Livan Hernandez, as well as calling on the longball to put runs on the board. Five different Nationals players put balls over the wall, including second baseman Danny Espinosa, who in Sunday's doubleheader collected seven RBI, including a three-run homerun and a three-run bases clearing triple. Espinosa is hitting .256 with a team leading 14 RBIs, seven walks and a .364 on-base percentage. He recently took over the leadoff spot from shortstop Ian Desmond, who has had a rough start to the young 2011 season.

The Nationals will need both good pitching and batting to find success in St. Louis. The Nats have not won a game at Busch Stadium since May 27, 2007 when they defeated the Cardinals, 7-2. It will be up to starter John Lannan (1-1, 3.38 ERA) to hold off the Cards offense, which is headed by always-dangerous first baseman Albert Pujols. Lannan hopes to continue the Nationals streak of pitchers who last five innings or more -- Washington is the only team in Major League Baseball to have all their starters do so.

The Nationals' offense will be looking to give Cardinals starter Jake Westbrook (1-1, 7.63 ERA) a rough night. Westbrook has pitched in three games this season, but only just got his first win of the season April 13 against the Arizona Diamondbacks. In those three games, Westbrook has given up 16 runs. Thirteen of those were earned.

First pitch from Busch Stadium takes place at 8:15 P.M. EST.

Nationals Lineup

Danny Espinosa - 2B

Rick Ankiel - CF

Jayson Werth - RF

Adam LaRoche - 1B

Wilson Ramos - C

Michael Morse - LF

Ian Desmond - SS

Jerry Hairston Jr. - 3B

John Lannan - SP