Waino fuels offense, holds off Nats’ surge

WASHINGTON — Adam Wainwright helped himself with the bat and withstood a Nationals home run charge as the Cardinals won, 9-4, Saturday night at Nationals Park.

Wainwright pitched a solid seven innings, allowing four runs on six hits as St. Louis won the seventh consecutive game started by the right-hander.

“He was great,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. “He established his fastball. That was huge. He was sinking it, he was cutting it. And then he got the curveball going. He had a good day.”

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Wainwright’s two-run double highlighted a four-run second inning off Gio Gonzalez, who couldn’t get through the fifth. Gonzalez was gone after 4 2/3 innings, chased after surrendering an RBI double to Randal Grichuk. Location seemed to be the problem for Gonzalez.

“It really hurt when Wainwright hit the double,” Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. “These guys are getting a bunch of two-out RBI hits against us. They are really hitting with runners in scoring position. We knew they could hit.”

The Nationals tried to keep it close against Wainwright using the long ball. Bryce Harper hit his 13th home run of the season, a solo shot over the center-field fence in the sixth inning. Ryan Zimmerman hit two home runs and collected four hits and three RBIs. His second homer made it a 6-4 game in the seventh inning.

But a two-run double by pinch-hitter Matt Adams in the eighth inning off left-hander Sammy Solis made it a four-run game. Yadier Molina added to the lead with a sacrifice fly off Shawn Kelley.

Wainwright, who got off to a slow start this season but has rebounded in recent weeks, applauded the Cardinals’ offense for scoring enough runs to overcome the Nationals’ home runs.

“My stuff is back,” Wainwright said. “I’ve just got to hone it a little. If I make those pitches on the corners or even out toward the corners, they’re probably ground balls or maybe singles. …

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