Four-run 6th Propels Nats Past Cards, 6-5

The Nats second string — a.k.a. our guys — put together a four-run rally in the 6th to help propel the Nats to their third straight one-run win, 6-5 over the Cardinals.

Matt Skole (1-for-1, R, BB) and Wilmer Difo (2-for-2) both connected on two-out, two-run singles to erase a 4-1 deficit, as the replacements for 3B Anthony Rendon and SS Danny Espinosa.

The rally took starter Stephen Strasburg off the hook for the “L,” who also got a brief assist from A.J. Cole, who stranded three by getting the last out of the 2nd but was tagged for two runs on two hits, including a solo shot in the 3rd. The 23-y.o. righty neither walked nor struck out a batter in his two and 1/3rd innings of work.

The save was credited to Scott McGregor, who gave up back-to-back-to-back singles with two outs before striking out Ty Kelly to escape the 9th.

A rundown of how the other notable minor-leaguers did, including a twin separated at birth:
• Michael Taylor pinch-ran for DH Dan Uggla and singled in the four-run 6th to finish 1-for-2 with two runs scored
• Cutter Dykstra tripled in Taylor in the 7th to go 1-for-2 with an RBI
• Rafael Bautista followed Tony Gwynn Jr. in CF and 1-for-2 with a run scored
• Jeff Kobernus started in LF and was 0-for-1 with a sacrifice fly
• Felipe Rivero retired the side in order in the 7th, striking out one

The Nats head east to Tampa to take on the Yankees this afternoon. The 1 p.m. game will be broadcast on the radio on 106.7 and rebroadcast on the MLB Network at a 8 p.m.