On the eve of their first meeting with the rival Cubs, the Cardinals got a career-best from Hudson, a partial day off for so many of their regulars, and just about everything Thursday they could have wanted except for one play, one check-swing, and the one win that slipped away. Washington turned an error in the fourth inning into two runs and followed Stephen Strasburg to a 2-1 victory at Nationals Park.
The Cardinals’ winning streak screeched to an end after five games, but they arrive at Wrigley Field early Friday morning with a 2½-game lead in the National League Central and 11 wins in their past 14 games.