Jack Flaherty pitched five effective innings for St. Louis in his first big league action since June, but the NL Central-leading Cardinals had their four-game winning streak stopped by Joey Meneses and the Washington Nationals 6-0 Monday.

Meneses got three hits and fellow rookie C.J. Abrams had four to back five shutout innings from Anibal Sanchez (2-5). Washington, which has the worst record in the majors, has won three in a row.

Flaherty (0-1) returned from the injured list after being sidelined by a right shoulder issue. In his first start since June 26, he allowed one run on six hits and a walk. He struck out six and hit a batter while throwing 91 pitches.

The 26-year-old Flaherty went 9-2 last season. He’s been out for most of this year, including a stint on the IL from April 7-June 14. He made five rehab starts in the minors.

Sanchez gave up just two hits. It was his first start at Busch Stadium since he threw 7 2/3 no-hit innings in the opener of the 2019 NL Championship Series.

In his last four starts, Sanchez has allowed just two runs on eight hits in 21 1/3 innings. The Nationals have won all those starts.

Meneses is 40 for 118 (.339) since making his MLB debut Aug. 2. Keibert Ruiz homered, Cesar Hernandez added two hits and Lane Thomas drove in two runs against his former team.

The Cardinals have won seven of their last nine games and 23 of 31.

Abrams, acquired from San Diego in the trade that moved Juan Soto from Washington, led off the third with a triple.

Thomas followed with a double to go up 1-0.

Washington added four runs in the sixth. St. Louis native Luke Voit drove in the final run with a sacrifice fly.

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