WASHINGTON • The expected pitching duel between an established ace from Missouri and a young, rising talent representing Missouri took an inning to get going. Both Washington starter Max Scherzer and Cardinals counter Jack Flaherty had unsteady first innings that the scarred the scoreboard with three runs.
Scherzer struck out 11 and pitched seven strong innings, but that wasn't enough for the Nationals to overcome the Cardinals. Flaherty gave them five innings and the bullpen handled the rest. The relievers got a two-run lead as far as the ninth inning before Bryce Harper tagged a 3-1 pitch from closer Bud Norris for a home run that tied the game, 3-3.