ST. LOUIS — Left-hander Jose Quintana, one of two starting pitchers acquired by the Cardinals at the early August trading deadline, worked a fifth consecutive start of five innings or fewer on Tuesday night. But this five-inning stint was highly effective as he struck out five, walked no one and gave up just one run to the Washington Nationals.
The Cardinals’ crack late-inning bullpen took it from there to nail down a 4-1 win at Busch Stadium over the pesky Nationals, who had entered the game with three consecutive victories over the New York Mets and Cardinals.
Quintana has made seven starts for the Cardinals since coming from the Pittsburgh Pirates, whom he will face this weekend in Pittsburgh. The Cardinals are 6-1 in those starts and Quintana, though he has gone six innings only twice, hasn’t given up more than two earned runs in any of the games.
Reliever Jordan Hicks knocked off his fifth successive scoreless performance, working two scoreless innings and fanning one batter on a 100 mile an hour fastball.
Giovanny Gallegos and Ryan Helsley, who entered to a striking light show, finished up on a night when struggling Nolan Gorman and Brendan Donovan provided much of the offense.
Gorman, who had been 1 for 16 with nine strikeouts, smacked his 14th home run and also had a run-scoring double. Donovan hit his third homer — first since June 26 — after having been 0 for 12.
The Cardinals fans who remained were hoping for one more home run. Albert Pujols pinch hit for Donovan against left-hander Jake McGee in the eighth, But Pujols flied to left field. He remains at 695 career homers.
Tuesday’s win ensured that the Cardinals would not lose two games in succession for the first time since late July.
It was the 80th win of the season for the Cardinals, who have won two 27 of their past 35 games and they maintained their 7 1/2 game lead over chasing Milwaukee in the National League Central Division.
