The Washington Nationals took an early lead in Monday's Game 2 of the NLDS, but a four-run second inning has given the St. Louis Cardinals a 4-1 lead.
In the bottom half of the second, David Freese hit a double to right-center field to tie the game at 1-1. Daniel Descalso then singled to right to give St. Louis a 2-1 lead. Manager Mike Matheny elected to pinch-hit for starting pitcher Jaime Garcia with runners on the corners, and pinch-hitter Skip Schumaker rewarded the move with an RBI groundout. Jon Jay followed with a single down the left field line to give the Cardinals a 4-1 lead. Jay was thrown out trying to stretch his hit into a double to end the inning.
Washington scored their run on a bloop single off the bat of starter Jordan Zimmermann in the top of the second. He appeared ready to bunt, but then pulled the bat back and swung away, plating Ian Desmond just ahead of Carlos Beltran's throw to home plate.
Lance Lynn came out of the bullpen and worked around a two-out single in the third to preserve St. Louis's lead.