Nationals rookie delivers with big hit

• Moore's two-run single in the eighth inning gave the Nationals the lead
• Wainwright struck out 10 over 5 2/3 inning
• The Nationals held the Cardinals to just three hits

NL Division Series, Game 1, from Busch Stadium

Nationals 3, Cardinals 2: Tyler Moore's big pinch-hit in the eighth inning lifts Washington in Game 1.

State of the Series: The Nationals didn't lead the major leagues with 98 wins in the regular season by accident and they proved that Sunday. Washington persevered through left-hander Gio Gonzalez walking seven batters in five innings and its offense stranding eight runners in the first six innings, including leaving the bases loaded twice. Now the Nationals hold a 1-0 lead and can go up two games in the best-of-five series Monday after when Jordan Zimmermann (12-8, 2.94 in the regular season) stats against Cardinals left-hander Jaime Garcia (7-7, 3.92).

Game 1 Pivot Point: Rookie pinch-hitter Tyler Moore ended the Nationals' day of frustration at the plate by dropping a two-run single into right field with two strikes and two outs in the top of the eighth inning off left-hander Mark Rzepczynski to put Washington on top 3-2. Rzepczynski was brought on in place of set-up man extraordinaire Mitchell Boggs to match up with the left-handed hitting Chad Tracy. The hit scored Michael Morse, who reached on rookie shortstop Pete Kozma's fielding error to start the inning, and Ian Desmond, who singled for his third hit of the game.

Man of the Moment: Moore, whose playing time was limited during the regular season while sitting behind first baseman Adam LaRoche, who had 33 home runs and 100 RBI, and Morse, who hit 18 homers. Moore had a solid rookie year in his limited role, hitting .263 with 10 home runs in 75 games and 156 at-bats.

Needing a mulligan: Cardinals first baseman Allen Craig was a relative unknown last year when he shined in the postseason and helped St. Louis to an improbable World Series title. However, he struggled Sunday as he went 0-for-4 and left six runners on base.

What you missed on TV: Busch Stadium can be one of the hottest places on the face of the Earth in the summertime with the humidity often pushing the "feels like" temperature into triple digits. However, it was downright chilly -- some might even say cold -- Sunday. The game time temperature was 54 degrees and that seemed like the reading came from an optimistic thermometer.

Digging into the numbers: Bringing in the left-handed Rzepczynski to face Tracy might have seemed like the logical move to make. However, left-handed hitters batted .255 in the regular season against Rzepczynski and .241 off Boggs.