Nolan Gorman broke out of a slump with a homer and a pair of RBIs, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Washington Nationals 4-1 on Tuesday night.

Gorman said time spent with hitting coach Jeff Albert helped him after the rookie had just one hit in his previous 12 at-bats. Gorman had eight strikeouts during that span.

Jose Quintana (5-6) gave up a run on five hits and he struck out five in five innings to earn his first win since Aug. 10. The Cardinals have won five of their last six games and 19 of their last 22 at Busch Stadium.

Jordan Hicks pitched two scoreless innings and Giovanny Gallegos turned in a perfect eighth in relief. Ryan Helsley pitched around a leadoff double to earn his 14th save in 18 opportunities.

Brendan Donovan’s solo homer broke an 0-for-12 skid and ignited a three-run fourth inning that snapped a 12-inning scoreless streak for the Cardinals. Tyler O’Neill’s sacrifice fly scored Nolan Arenado and Gorman’s double scored Corey Dickerson to give St. Louis a 3-1 lead.

Gorman added to the lead with a solo home run off Steve Cishek in the seventh.

Nationals starter Paolo Espino (0-7) gave up three runs in five innings. Espino allowed seven hits and struck out five as Washington’s three-game winning streak ended.

Ildemaro Vargas’ RBI single in the second gave the Nationals a 1-0 lead.

Cardinals slugger Paul Goldschmidt was held to one hit and did not drive in a run as he continued his Triple Crown pursuit. Goldschmidt leads the NL with his .329 average and 107 RBIs. His 34 homers trails Philadelphia’s Kyle Schwarber (36) and Atlanta’s Austin Riley (35).

UP NEXT

RHP Cory Abbott (0-2, 4.39 ERA) will get the start for the Nationals in the third of a four-game series tonight, while the Cardinals counter with LHP Jordan Montgomery (8-3, 3.15 ERA).