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Leake falls to 0-3 as Cardinals drop opener to Nationals 5-4
ST. LOUIS -- So far, the St. Louis Cardinals have nothing to show for their biggest offseason move. It was a forgettable April for Mike Leake.
The right-hander was victimized by a four-run fourth inning in a 5-4 loss to the Washington Nationals on Friday night. He's 0-3 with a 5.83 ERA after the first five starts with his new club.
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"I think one month won't kill you," Leake said. "I mean, it's still five more months to go. Unfortunately, this month went the way it did and I've just got to move on."
Leake, who got a five-year, $80 million free-agent deal, believes he's getting closer. The results indicate otherwise.
"I hate to say I'm almost there, but I should be there," Leake said. "I'm pretty positive with the direction I'm going."
So is manager Mike Matheny. He pointed out that Leake, who gave up five runs in seven innings, allowed just five hits.
"He's throwing the ball pretty well," Matheny said. "I don't think the results are necessarily in line with how he's been throwing."
Stephen Strasburg struck out nine, including seven of eight to begin his third time through the order, and Washington got home runs from Michael Taylor and Danny Espinosa.
Taylor's second leadoff homer of the season ended a 22-inning scoreless drought. Espinosa's first of the season was a two-run shot that capped a four-run fourth, an inning aided when the Nationals successfully challenged a caught stealing call against Anthony Rendon, who led off the inning with a single.
"I thought it was going to be pretty easy to tell, and it was on the replay," catcher Eric Fryer said. "It looked like he was safe."
Leake had anticipated the call might be overturned, so that wasn't a huge blow mentally. It was the home run by Espinosa that really hurt.
"I just let it get away for an inning," Leake said. "That's about it."
Strasburg (4-0) gave up two runs and eight hits in seven innings with one walk. He has 29 strikeouts in 22 1/3 innings over his last three outings. Jonathan Papelbon earned his eighth save in nine chances for Washington, which is 5-0 in Strasburg's starts.
Matt Adams hit a two-run homer off Blake Treinen in the eighth for St. Louis, which is 18-9 against Washington the last five seasons. Adams and Matt Holliday both had an RBI in the first.
Daniel Murphy and Jayson Werth had RBIs in the fourth.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Nationals: C Wilson Ramos (bereavement list) could return this weekend after leaving following the death of his grandfather. Manager Dusty Baker said the team would be patient, adding "death has no season."
Cardinals: OF Tommy Pham (side) could begin a rehab assignment next week. 2B Kolten Wong (flu) is ready but Matheny went with the hot hand in Jedd Gyorko, who doubled in three at-bats. Jhonny Peralta (thumb) will be re-evaluated in 10 days and GM John Mozeliak envisioned a rehab starting on or about May 21. RHP Mitch Harris (shoulder) will get a second opinion on Monday.
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