Rough six-run fifth for Patrick Corbin dooms Washington Nationals in 6-3 loss to St. Louis Cardinals...

Patrick Corbin was cruising through four scoreless on the mound tonight in Nationals Park, with a 3-0 lead, but a 32-pitch, six-run top of the fifth, in which he gave up five hits, walked two, and threw a bases-loaded wild pitch, put the St. Louis Cardinals up 6-3 and ended the lefty’s outing in what ended up being another series-opening loss for Washington.

Corbin vs the Cards: Patrick Corbin knocked off two NL West clubs in his last two starts before tonight’s, giving up seven hits and four runs (three earned) in outings against the San Francisco Giants (at home) and Colorado Rockies (on the road in Coors Field), over which he walked two batters, struck out 15, and held opposing hitters to a .146/.196/.250 line against in 13 ²⁄₃ IP.

Back home in the nation’s capital for tonight’s outing, Corbin took on the NL Central’s St. Louis Cardinals and held them hitless through 3 ¹⁄₃, before an error and the first hit of the game for the Cards put two on, but the lefty got an inning-ending 6-4-3 to get out of the first jam of the night.

Harrison Bader broke up Corbin’s bid for a shutout in the fifth, taking an 0-1 fastball out the other way for an opposite field solo shot that got the Cardinals on the board, down 3-1. No. 3 of 2019 for Bader.

Two walks around a two-out single loaded the bases later in the Cardinals’ fifth, and a high, wild pitch from Corbin got over catcher Yan Gomes and allowed the Cards’ second run of the fifth inning to come home, 3-2. Marcell Ozuna singled to center field to drive in two more and the visitors took the lead, 4-3, and 5-3 on an RBI double by Jose Martinez ... and 6-3 on an RBI single by Yadier Molina.

Patrick Corbin’s Line: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 4 BB, 5 Ks, 1 HR, 92 P, 52 S, 5/2 GO/FO.

Wacha vs Washington: After a rough outing against the Los Angeles Dodgers in which he gave up eight hits and seven runs (all earned) in 3 ²⁄₃ IP, Cardinals’ starter Michael Wacha bounced back and earned his first win of 2019 when he took on the Milwaukee Brewers in Miller Park on April 17th, tossing six strong in which he gave up five hits and just two runs (both earned) in what ended up a 6-3 win.

Wacha spent time on the IL between that last start and his outing in the first of four in the nation’s capital, dealing with a knee issue, and he fell behind early in the series opener when he issued a two-out, bases-loaded walk to the opposing pitcher, Patrick Corbin, forcing in one before Adam Eaton stepped in and hit a two-run single to left field for a 3-0 lead in the second.

The Cards’ right-hander held the Nationals there, however, and after a six-run top of the fifth put the visiting team on top, Wacha came back out with a 14-pitch, 1-2-3 bottom inning that ended his outing.

Michael Wacha’s Line: 5.0 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 5 Ks, 101 P, 67 S, 6/3 GO/FO.

Soto Streaks: Juan Soto extended an on-base streak to 13-straight games with a home run in his second trip to the plate on Sunday, and the 20-year-old outfielder has a .373 OBP in the last thirteen games, 14 hits, a double, four home runs, and eight walks over the course of the streak. Soto was 0 for 3 with a K against Michael Wacha through five innings, but he walked in an eighth-inning at bat against reliever John Brebbia to extend the streak to 14-straight games.

BULLPEN ACTION: Justin Miller took over for the Nationals with the Cardinals up 6-3 in the sixth, and worked around a HBP in a scoreless 11-pitch frame.

Giovanny Gallegos replaced Wacha on the hill in the bottom of the sixth inning, and the 27-year-old right-hander retired the side in order in a 17-pitch frame.

Miller returned to the mound in the seventh and worked around a two-out single for another scoreless frame.

Gallegos got another inning in the bottom of the seventh, retiring the side in order again.

Wander Suero needed 11 pitches in a scoreless top of the eighth, working around a two-out single to keep it a 6-3 game in the Cards’ favor.

John Brebbia gave up one and two-out walks in the Nats’ eighth, setting Carter Kieboom up with a chance to tie it, and he worked the count full and walked to load’em up. Brian Dozier stepped in next and popped out to the infield to end the threat (Nats = 1 for 5 w/ RISP).

Matt Grace gave up a two-out hit, but stranded the only runner to reach base in a scoreless top of the ninth.

Jordan Hicks got the ninth for the Cards and retired the Nationals in order to end it, 6-3 St. Louis final.

Nationals now 12-15