The St. Louis Cardinals erased a five run deficit to beat the Washington Nationals 7-6 in eleven innings.

The Nationals got to Sonny Gray early, tagging him for five runs in the first three innings. Gray went five innings total, allowing five runs on eight hits and one walk.

The Cardinals bullpen went six innings, allowing no earned runs the rest of the way.

Down one run in the top of the ninth, Willson Contreras hit a game tying solo homer to help send the game to extras. Both teams traded runs in the tenth, but the Cardinals seized the lead for good in the eleventh and took the first game of the series.

Ryan Helsley picked up the win, pitching two innings of relief in extras.

Contreras has two hits and two RBI as well as the game-tying solo homer. Nolan Gorman had two hits and two RBI after pinch hitting in the eighth.

The Cardinals improve to 46-41, and are five games behind Milwaukee in the NL Central.

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The series with the Nationals continues today. First pitch is at 3:05 p.m.