Tyler Moore's Two-Run Single Lifts Nationals to 3-2 Game 1 Victory Over Cardinals

Just call him "Merry" Tyler Moore because he turned on Washington with a single. 

The rookie's clutch pinch-hit, two-run single in the top of the eighth inning gave the Washington Nationals and their fans plenty to be happy about in a 3-2 Game 1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. 

It all started with a bit of subterfuge. With Michael Morse on third and Ian Desmond on second with two outs, Davey Johnson summoned the left-handed Chad Tracy to pinch hit against right-hander Mitchell Boggs. Cardinals manager Mike Matheny countered by calling left-hander Marc Rzepczynski from the bullpen, so Johnson went one step further and replaced Tracy with Moore, a right-hander. 

With the count at 2-2, Moore dropped a bloop single into shallow right field, allowing Morse and Desmond to come home to give Washington the lead. 

Moore's single lifted the Nationals to victory despite Gio Gonzalez's shaky outing. Even though Gonzalez only allowed one hit in five innings of work, he walked seven Cardinals, which tied a career-high, including four in the second inning alone. After walking the bases loaded in the second, Yadier Molina scored on a wild pitch, while Daniel Descalso came home on a sacrifice fly by John Jay as St. Louis took an early 2-1 that held up until Moore's single.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals wasted a strong start from Adam Wainwright, who struck out 10 and allowed just one run on six hits in 5.2 innings. 

Drew Storen finished off the Cardinals in the bottom of the ninth for the save, setting up Game 2 Monday afternoon at Busch Stadium.


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