Nationals overcome Pujols’ 400th homer, Desmond gets RBI in 13th in 11-10 win over Cardinals

Pujols hits 400th, but Nats top Cards 11-10 in 13

WASHINGTON — The Washington Nationals aren’t planning on any playoff celebrations this year, so they’ll make do with moments like Thursday night’s thrilling victory.

If the St. Louis Cardinals don’t start beating last-place clubs, they won’t have any postseason joy, either.

Ian Desmond singled home Nyjer Morgan in the bottom of the 13th inning and Washington overcame Albert Pujols’ 400th home run in an 11-10 roller-coaster win over the Cardinals.

“I don’t really know what big league playoff baseball feels like — I’m sure the atmosphere is a little bit more hectic — but that was a great-played game by both sides,” said Desmond, who finished with four hits and three RBIs.

Morgan was hit by a pitch from Blake Hawksworth (4-8) while squaring to bunt leading off the 13th, then advanced to third on Alberto Gonzalez’s one-out single. With the infield in, Desmond bounced a grounder up the middle to end the Nationals’ four-game losing streak.

The Nationals used eight pitchers, the Cardinals seven, and Washington went through every position player available. There was at least one run scored in every inning from the second through the ninth. The Cardinals scored four in the top of the ninth to take a 10-8 lead, but Roger Bernadina’s two-run homer to right-center off Ryan Franklin sent the game to extra innings. At one point, the clock and scoreboard were in sync: It was 10-10 at 10:10.

“That game had all the elements: comebacks from both clubs, timely hitting, good baserunning, good defense,” Washington manager Jim Riggleman said. “It had a little bit of everything.”

Doug Slaten (4-1) pitched a scoreless inning for the Nationals, who broke out of their offensive doldrums with 16 hits. Washington had been shut out three times in the past week.

It all capped what had already been a busy day at Nationals Park, with Washington introducing this year’s No. 1 overall draft pick, Bryce Harper, and having an MRI performed on last year’s No. 1 overall selection, Stephen Strasburg. His test results are to be released Friday.

Pujols hit his milestone homer leading off the fourth, but it couldn’t stop a St. Louis slide that has come at an inopportune time in the playoff race. The Cardinals have lost three straight and eight of 11 — including a demoralizing two in a row to last-place Pittsburgh before arriving to play last-place Washington.

“We’ve got to win ballgames, that’s what it comes down to,” starting pitcher Chris Carpenter said. “It doesn’t matter how we do it, whether it’s 15-14 or 1-0, we’ve got to win ballgames, and unfortunately I didn’t pitch well enough tonight to give my team a chance.”

Pujols sent an 0-1 fastball from Jordan Zimmermann into the right-center seats to become the 47th major league player to reach 400 homers, and the third-youngest to do so. Pujols stood and admired the shot, then was mobbed by teammates when he returned to the dugout.

“It’s a special milestone,” Pujols said, “but I don’t play for numbers.”

The slugger also hurt his right ankle in the bottom of the 10th when he tried to plant his foot on the tarp to reach for a foul ball near the first base dugout. He stayed in the game but was uncertain he would be able to play Friday.

“It’s pretty sore right now,” Pujols said. “It was pretty scary.”

Looking to shake things up, Riggleman canceled regular batting practice and had his players hit in the indoor cage instead. He also shuffled the lineup, putting Adam Kennedy at leadoff for the first time this season, moving Morgan to second and Desmond to fifth.

It seemed to pay off. Every player in the starting lineup except the pitcher had at least one hit.

Zimmermann made his first major league start after having elbow ligament replacement surgery 12 months ago. A premier prospect before he got hurt, he allowed five runs and seven hits over four innings.

Carpenter, another pitcher who came back from Tommy John surgery, allowed 10 hits over six innings. He gave up six runs, but only three were earned because of shortstop Felipe Lopez’s throwing error in the third.

NOTES: Alex Rodriguez is the youngest player to get to 400 homers, having done so at 29 years, 316 days. Ken Griffey Jr. reached the benchmark at 30 years, 141 days. Pujols reached it at 30 years, 222 days. … The Nationals said OF Josh Willingham should be recovered in four to six weeks from surgery on his left knee. Willingham had the operation Wednesday and will not play again this season. … 3B Pedro Feliz has hit safely in all seven games since he was traded to the Cardinals from Houston.