Red- hot Heyward keys Cardinals’ rally in victory

ST. LOUIS — Jason Heyward hit a two- run, tie- breaking double in the seventh inning to key a five- run rally, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Washington Nationals 8- 5 on Monday.

St. Louis won for the eighth time in nine games and moved five games ahead of the idle Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League Central.

Washington, which had won six of its previous eight, fell 6 1/2 games behind the New York Mets in the NL East. New York beat Philadelphia 3- 1 on Monday.

The Cardinals sent 10 batters to the plate in the seventh and erased a 5- 3 deficit with five two- out runs.

Kolten Wong followed Heyward’s hit with a run- scoring single to push the lead to 8- 5.

Stephen Piscotty and Jhonny Peralta had RBI hits off Casey Janssen ( 13) to tie the game. Felipe Rivero gave up the double to Heyward.

Kevin Siegrist ( 6- 1) picked up the victory despite allowing three runs in the seventh.

St. Louis closer Trevor Rosenthal recorded his 42nd save in 44 opportunities. He had missed the previous three games after the birth of his daughter.

Ryan Zimmerman hit a three- run home run and drove in four runs for the Nationals. Zimmerman, who went 3 for 5 and was a triple shy of the cycle, has 15 RBI in his past eight games.

Heyward, who was home run shy of the cycle in Sunday’s 7- 5 victory at San Francisco, is 7 for 14 in his past four games.

St. Louis starter John Lackey gave up 2 runs, 1 earned, in 6 innings. He struck out eight and walked four.

Washington starter Gio Gonzalez surrendered three runs in six innings.