ST. LOUIS (AP) — Saturday night was one of firsts for the St. Louis Cardinals.

Rookie second baseman Alex Mejia’s first two major league hits — including an eighth-inning home run — and Matt Bowman’s first career save were the difference as the Cardinals defeated the Washington Nationals 2-1.

“He’s a stud,” Cardinals right-hander Michael Wacha said of Mejia. “He made great plays on defense and then drove in our two RBI. For a rookie that’s pretty amazing stuff.”

The Cardinals have won four straight, taking series victories against the Arizona Diamondbacks and Nationals, and six of their last seven.

Washington, which is the only team in the National League yet to be shut out this season, has lost three straight and five of their last seven.

“Wacha was good and he was very good,” Nationals manager Dusty Baker said. “It was a well-pitched ballgame. … They kept us in the ballpark the last couple days which is hard to do and we’re due to erupt before we leave from here.”

Wacha (5-3), celebrating his 26th birthday, was coming off his best start in more than a month and was even better against Washington with six scoreless innings. He surrendered four hits, struck out a season-high nine and walked one.

“I felt like I was able to command the baseball the way I wanted to tonight,” Wacha said.

Washington left-hander Gio Gonzalez (7-3) was nearly as good against an all right-handed hitting Cardinals lineup that included four rookies. He allowed one run and two hits over seven innings, striking out nine and walking two.

Mejia, appearing in his third game since being called up, provided the offense.

His first hit, an RBI single to center, gave the Cardinals a 1-0 lead in the second inning. In the eighth, he deposited the first pitch from reliever Sammy Solis into the left field seats for his first home run and a 2-0 lead.

Mejia then received his first curtain call from the announced crowd of 43,614.

“That was pretty cool,” he said. “That was a really neat feeling, actually, having that many fans support you. It’s just an awesome feeling.”

The Nationals rallied in the ninth, getting an RBI single from Stephen Drew and loading the bases with two outs against Trevor Rosenthal. But then Matheny turned to Bowman and he was able to strike out pinch-hitter Adrian Sanchez looking on the ninth pitch of the at-bat for his first career save.

The final strike was a questionable call that went the Cardinals’ way.

“I saw it a little outside but that’s the way I saw it and I thought I had walked but he called it a strike,” Sanchez said.

500 WINS

Matheny earned win No. 500 on Saturday, becoming the second-fastest Cardinals manager to reach that number behind Billy Southworth. Matheny is also the second-fastest active manager to reach that mark behind Joe Girardi of the New York Yankees.

“The odds of me being around long enough to win 500 were probably pretty low when we started this gig,” Matheny said. “So humbled and grateful and been blessed with some amazing talent in the clubhouse, both on the field and with the staff and the support.”

STREAKING

Yadier Molina’s fourth-inning single extended his hitting streak to 16 games, which tied his career-long. He also had a 16-game hit streak earlier this season.

500 K

Wacha’s fourth-inning strikeout of Ryan Zimmerman was the 500th of his career and came in his 106th game, making him the second-fastest St. Louis Cardinal (after Steve Carlton) to reach that milestone.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Nationals: Solis (left elbow inflammation) was activated from the DL. … RHP Jacob Turner was designated for assignment.

Cardinals: LHP Zach Duke (left elbow surgery) appeared in his second consecutive game for Single-A Gulf Coast on Saturday, striking out two in a scoreless inning.

UP NEXT

Nationals: RHP Max Scherzer (9-5, 2.06 ERA), a St. Louis area native, is 1-4 with a 3.14 ERA in seven career starts against the Cardinals. He is 1-1 with a 2.00 ERA in three starts at Busch Stadium.

Cardinals: RHP Carlos Martinez (6-6, 2.88 ERA) is 0-1 with a 6.10 ERA in five career appearances, including one start, against Washington.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Mike Leake pitched eight strong innings and Yadier Molina drove in four runs to help the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Washington Nationals 8-1 on Friday night.

The Cardinals have won five of their past six, while the Nationals have dropped four of six.

Leake (6-6) got his first win since he last went eight innings in a victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 24. He was 0-4 with two no-decisions before picking up the victory Friday. He pitched eight innings, giving up one run on five hits, striking out four and walking three.

A wild Tanner Roark (6-6) took the loss, lasting just three innings. He gave up four hits but walked a season-high five, the final two of which resulted in the Cardinals’ first two runs. Of his 85 pitches in the game, only 46 were strikes.

Molina extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a two-run single in the third and added another two-run hit as the Cardinals scored five times in the fourth off reliever Jacob Turner. Molina scored on Paul DeJong’s sixth homer of the season.

During his streak, Molina is hitting .328 with three home runs and 13 RBI.

SCARY MOMENT

For a few moments in the first inning, it looked as if the Nationals might have sustained another blow due to an injury. OF Bryce Harper was running out a ground ball and, after crossing first and taking two more steps, fell to the ground. Washington manager Dusty Baker and the Nationals’ trainer came out to check on Harper who stayed on the ground for about three minutes before taking his place on first. He stayed in the game and had two walks and was hitless in two at-bats.

DEBUT

Freshly called up INF Adrian Sanchez made his Major League debut as a pinch runner in the eighth inning. He was erased on an inning-ending double play.

A NEW-OLD LOOK

Cardinals 1B Matt Carpenter took grounders at second base prior to the start of the game. He played 38 games at the position last year and was the regular starter in 2013. Matheny said he wanted to get him work at second to provide more flexibility on the roster, including possibly playing Luke Voit and Jose Martinez at first.

TRAINING ROOM

Cardinals: 2B Kolten Wong was targeted to return to the team this weekend but will remain on the disabled list through next week’s All-Star Break. Wong was put on the 10-day list June 15 with a tricep injury.

Washington: The Nationals officially placed shortstop Trea Turner on the 10-day disabled list with a non-displaced fracture of his right wrist. Turner was hit by a pitch Thursday against the Cubs. The Nationals selected the contract of Sanchez from Triple-A Syracuse on Friday to take Turner’s spot on the roster.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: RHP Michael Wacha (4-3, 4.50) gets the start on his 26th birthday and is coming off his second consecutive winning decision. He needs six strikeouts for 500 in his career and to tie Hall of Famer Steve Carlton as the second fastest (106 games) to that mark in team history. Current starter Lance Lynn (101 games) holds the record.

Nationals: LHP (7-2, 2.87) looks to bounce back from a loss in his last outing, his first loss since early May.

— Associated Press —

PHOENIX (AP) — Three weeks in the minor leagues improved Randal Grichuk’s swing.

Grichuk hit a go-ahead, three-run homer in the seventh inning and drove in five runs, leading the St. Louis Cardinals over the Arizona Diamondbacks 10-4 Thursday.

In his fourth big league season, Grichuk was sent down May 29 and recalled from Triple-A Memphis on Sunday after 15 games in the minors.

“I definitely took it as a wake-up call,” he explained. “I said, let’s go and make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

He homered in each of his first two games back, using a shorter swing, but was 0 for 9 entering Thursday.

Arizona led 3-2 with two outs in the seventh when pinch-hitter Luke Voit doubled off Ruby De La Rosa (0-1) and Matt Carpenter was intentionally walked.

You have an established major-league hitter has a tremendous track record,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said.

Grichuk sent a 1-2 slider into the left-field seats.

“It definitely shows there’s not respect,” Grichuk said of Arizona’s strategy.

De La Rosa said he tried to throw a breaking ball in the dirt.

“I put too much effort,” he said.

Tommy Pham hit a two-run single off Randall Delgado in the eighth. Grichuk followed with a two-run double, raising his average to .233 with seven homers and 28 RBI. He scored on Stephen Piscotty’s single.

Lance Lynn (6-5) allowed three runs and four hits in six innings, struck out seven and walked one.

Diamondbacks starter Patrick Corbin gave up two runs and five hits in six innings.

Gregor Blanco hit an RBI double in the third, but Jose Martinez had a two-run single in the fourth. Goldschmidt’s 19th homer tied the score in the bottom half, and Jake Lamb hit an RBI grounder in the sixth after Blanco’s triple.

Lamb homered in the ninth against Mike Mayers.

NO HUMIDOR FOR D-BACKS

Major League Baseball and the Diamondbacks have postponed until next season sorting baseballs in a humidor.

Arizona had “calibration issues” in setting up the device, general manager Mike Hazen said. And with the season approaching the halfway point, MLB decided it would be best to wait until next year, according to Hazan.

Colorado uses a humidor at Coors Field.

DEBUT ONE

Ildemaro Vargas made big league debut when he entered at second base in the eighth inning as part of a double switch. Vargas was recalled from Reno, and Arizona optioned RHP Braden Shipley to the Triple-A farm team. In 74 games for the Aces, Vargas hit .303 with six homers and 43 RBI.

DEBUT TWO

Alex Mejia of the Cardinals was 0 for 2 in his major league debut, stranding four runners. He started at second base and can play any infield position, manager Mike Matheny said. Mejia helped lead the University of Arizona to the 2012 College World Series title.

“It’s pretty nice to get it out of the way,” Mejia said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Diamondbacks: OF A.J. Pollock, who has not played for the Diamondbacks since May 14 because of groin and quadriceps injuries, is scheduled to play Friday for Reno and then be evaluated. Pollock probably won’t return to Arizona’s roster until next week, Hazen said.

UP NEXT

Cardinals: Mike Leake (5-6) is to start Friday’s homestand opener against Washington. Leake is 0-4 in his last six starts, but his 3.12 ERA is ninth in the NL among qualified pitchers.

Diamondbacks: Robbie Ray (8-3, 2.87) starts Friday against visiting Colorado, which has lost a season-high eight games. Ray is 6-0 with a 1.29 ERA in his last seven starts with 60 strikeouts.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Randal Grichuk looks good since his return from Triple-A. So does the St. Louis lineup.

Grichuk homered for the second straight game and the Cardinals broke out the bats again for an 8-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Monday.

“I feel good with where I’m at mentally and I feel good with where I’m at mechanically with my swing,” Grichuk said.

“It’s one of those things, I think I’m more of a guy who kind of thrives off almost playing stupid — just going up there and seeing ball, hit ball and not overthinking my swing and my stance and how I feel and just letting the body take over.”

Grichuk, who was hitting .222 when he was demoted last month, is 4 for 10 with two homers, four RBI and three runs scored since his recall on Sunday. His two-run homer in the fourth inning was his sixth of the season.

The Cardinals avoided a three-game sweep with an 8-4 win over the Pirates on Sunday night. On Monday, a makeup from the April 29 contest that was postponed because of severe weather, they scored eight more runs on 13 hits.

Grichuk and Jedd Gyorko each had two hits, including a homer, and three RBI. Tommy Pham had two hits, walked twice, stole a base and scored three runs. Paul DeJong added three hits.

“They hit a lot of bad pitches and that’s what good teams do,” Reds manager Bryan Price said. “I just said the same thing about the Nationals. It’s not a matter of having to consistently hit good pitches, it’s taking the mistakes that you get and not missing them and not taking and not fouling them back, not hooking them down the line just foul there and putting it on the barrel.”

St. Louis gave starter Michael Wacha (4-3) more than enough support.

Wacha, who began the day with an 8.17 ERA over his last seven starts, limited the Reds to one run on five hits in six innings. He struck out five and walked one.

“I thought he was great,” Cardinals manager Mike Matheny said. “He did a nice job establishing the bottom of the zone. I think we saw the kind of swing and misses that we were hoping for with the changeup. I do believe that curveball has become a much better pitch. He’s using it to steal strikes. He’s also using it to put guys away.”

Brandon Finnegan (1-1) was activated off the disabled list after missing more than two months because of a shoulder problem. The lefty exited in the fourth with a strained left triceps, an injury he said was different than his previous issue.

Finnegan gave up three runs in the first inning. He allowed three hits and four walks overall.

Pham, starting in the leadoff spot for the first time this season, manufactured the first run. He drew a walk, tagged up and took second base on a routine flyout to left-center field, stole third and scored on a passed ball when Stephen Piscotty walked.

“That was great,” Gyorko said. “I haven’t seen something quite like that in a while and it wasn’t on normal plays that you would see. Just great hustle plays and got us a run, got us on the board early and Michael took care of the rest.”

Adam Duvall had a pair of sacrifice flies for the Reds.

STREAKING

Gyorko’s shot extended the Cardinals’ streak to 15 consecutive games with a home run. . The Reds have allowed a home run in 19 straight games, a franchise record. . Yadier Molina’s third-inning single extended his hitting string to 12 games.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Reds: The Reds activated Finnegan off the DL and optioned RHP Lisalverto Bonilla to Triple-A Louisville. . RHP Bronson Arroyo (right shoulder) was transferred to the 60-day disabled list.

Cardinals: 2B Kolten Wong (right triceps strain) could begin a rehab assignment this week.

UP NEXT

Reds: RHP Tim Adleman (4-4, 4.30) will open a three-game home series against Milwaukee on Tuesday night. He is 2-2 with a 2.68 ERA in his last six starts.

Cardinals: RHP Carlos Martinez (6-6, 2.87) will open a three-game series at Arizona on Tuesday night. He is 2-5 with a 4.29 ERA in seven road starts this season.

— Associated Press —

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Randal Grichuk homered in his return to the majors, Yadier Molina had three hits and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-4 on Sunday night.

Grichuk, who was sent to the minors on May 29 after struggling with consistency, had two hits — including his solo homer in the sixth inning — and scored twice. Molina, who had missed the previous two games after being hit by a foul tip on the knee, had three hits, scored three runs and drove in a run.

The Cardinals, who had lost three straight, scored four runs in the seventh to break open a tie game. Molina’s RBI single off Juan Nicasio (1-4) made it 5-4 and rookie Paul DeJong’s two-run single gave St. Louis an 8-4 lead.

Trevor Rosenthal (2-3) struck out the only batter he faced in the seventh to earn the win in relief for the Cardinals. Starter Mike Leake went six innings and allowed four runs — three earned — and six hits in six innings.

St. Louis took a 2-0 lead in the second on Greg Garcia’s two-run single, but the Pirates went up 3-2 in the third on Adam Frazier’s two-run triple and Josh Harrison’s sacrifice fly.

Pittsburgh added another run in the fourth on Elias Diaz’s sacrifice fly that scored Andrew McCutchen.

The Cardinals tied the game in the sixth on Grichuk’s homer off Pirates starter Chad Kuhl and Jedd Gyorko’s pinch-hit ground-rule RBI double. Grichuk’s 478-foot homer was the longest by a Cardinals player in the new Busch Stadium and the second-longest in stadium history. Milwaukee’s Keon Broxton crushed a 489-foot shot on June 15.

Kuhl gave up four runs and eight hits in five innings. He struck out six and walked one.

ROSTER SHUFFLE

The Cardinals placed OF Dexter Fowler (right heel spur) and LHP Kevin Siegrist (cervical spine sprain) on the disabled list and optioned OF Chad Huffman to Triple-A Memphis before the game. St. Louis recalled Grichuk and RHP Mike Mayers and purchased the contract of 1B Luke Voit from Triple-A.

MAJOR LEAGUE DEBUT

Voit, who grew up in the St. Louis suburb of Wildwood, Missouri, pinch hit for the Cardinals in the seventh inning for his first major league plate appearance. He was hit in the back by a 96 mph fastball from Jhan Marinez.

Voit is from the same high school — Lafayette — as former National League MVP Ryan Howard and former World Series MVP David Freese. Freese, who was playing third base for the Pirates on Sunday night, sent Voit a congratulatory note before the game.

UP NEXT

Pirates: After an off day Monday, RHP Trevor Williams (3-3, 5.09) will make his 10th start of the season on Tuesday night against visiting Tampa Bay.

Cardinals: RHP Michael Wacha (3-3, 4.76) will face the Reds in a makeup game against visiting Cincinnati on Monday afternoon. He is 7-1 with a 2.95 ERA in 13 career starts (15 appearances) against Cincinnati.

— Associated Press —