Late homers vault Cardinals past Nationals 5-3

Iván Herrera hit a pair of home runs, and Leo Bernal also homered as the St. Louis Cardinals scored three runs in the eighth inning to come from behind and beat the Washington Nationals 5-3 on Sunday.

Bernal hit his fifth homer of the season off Yovanny Cruz (0-2) after Erik Tolman walked Jordan Walker with two outs in the eighth inning.

Herrera hit his second homer of the game and 18th of the season to tie the game at 3-all after hitting a solo shot in the first inning.

It was Herrera’s third career multi-homer game and second this season after going deep twice on June 13 at Minnesota.

Luis Gastelum (5-3) pitched a scoreless eighth inning for St. Louis, and Riley O’Brien pitched a perfect ninth to earn his National League-leading 38th save.

Cardinals starter Quinn Mathews allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks in a career-high seven innings.

The Cardinals open a three-game series in Pittsburgh Monday night where RHP Andre Pallante (12-7, 3.70) will face Pirates RHP Jared Jones (4-6, 4.17)


(AP Photo Scott Kane)