MLB: St. Louis 4, Washington 1 (6 inn.)

WASHINGTON, July 24 (UPI) -- Adam Wainwright held Washington to a lone run despite giving up eight hits Thursday and St. Louis defeated the Nationals 4-1 in a game shortened by rain.

The start of the contest was delayed by thunderstorms and the game was called in the seventh inning, just before midnight, after Skip Schumaker led off the top of the seventh by grounding out to second.

Wainwright (11-6) went the distance, striking out seven. He stopped Washington's two-game winning streak and helped bring the Cardinals their first win in four tries.

St. Louis boosted its lead in the National League Central to 1 ½ games over Houston and the Chicago Cubs.

Rick Ankiel gave St. Louis a 2-0 lead in the second with a solo homer. The Cardinals added two more in the fourth on an RBI double by Joe Thurston and a bases-loaded walk to Schumaker.

Collin Balester (0-1), in his first major league appearance of the season, allowed two runs on three hits in three innings to take the loss.

Balester was called up from Class AAA Syracuse to make the start after Jordan Zimmerman was placed on the 15-day disabled list.