ST. LOUIS -- It had been more than a year since Koda Glover last recorded a save in a Major League game, a long road marked by injuries and setbacks and countless hours of rehab. With their first three closing options on the disabled list, the Nationals have been forced to turn to Glover in the role, less than a week after he pitched in his first game in the Majors since returning from a season-long DL stint to recover from a shoulder injury.
Glover was tasked with holding a one-run lead in the ninth inning Thursday night at Busch Stadium, a lead built by a strong start from Tanner Roark and three RBIs from Bryce Harper. The Cardinals put the winning run on base, three days after Glover surrendered a walk-off home run in the ninth inning. This time Glover passed the test, sealing the Nats' 5-4 victory and recording his first save since June 6, 2017.

"The first game of the series didn't go as I would like for it to have went," Glover said. "To get put back in that situation, or even a better situation to get a save, yeah, I'm happy with the outcome."
The win snaps Washington's four-game losing streak and ends a disappointing 2-5 road trip on a high note. The Nationals will return to D.C. with a .500 record, trailing the first-place Braves by eight games in the National League East.
The Nats' bullpen helped define this seven-game road trip, in which blown saves and wasted leads contributed to the losing skid that has nearly buried their postseason hopes. That relief corps was in the spotlight once again on Thursday. With his options limited, manager Dave Martinez planned to turn to two relievers, Justin Miller and Glover, to close out the game.

Miller, who was not even on the Nationals' roster when the season began, began the seventh with a leadoff walk before he quickly righted himself and retired the next three hitters in order. He then went 1-2-3 in the eighth.
"I don't really look at it like I've got the seventh or eighth or anything like that," Miller said. "I just look at it as I'm trying to do my job, and I think that's how everyone else is trying to take it too. Not trying to put too much pressure on us."
The Nats were in position to hand the ball to Miller because of a strong start from Roark, who once again demonstrated the form that has made him one of the bright spots for the Nationals in the past month, putting together his fifth consecutive quality start. He went six innings and was charged for four runs (three earned), allowing five hits and three walks against one strikeout. He helped his own cause with two hits and scored two runs himself.

"It was a grinder," Roark said. "Just kept on going after them, not giving in."
All week, Martinez had implored the Nats to score early to help ease the pressure on themselves during these near-must-win games, and they gave Roark an early lead in this game. Harper put Washington on the board three batters into the first inning with an RBI double. Anthony Rendon added a run-scoring single in the third. Harper would drive in another pair in the fourth, and an error by Tyson Ross allowed Daniel Murphy to score in the fifth.

Despite the early offense, the Nationals squandered chances for more, as they went a combined 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position. Still, they handed Glover the ball in the ninth with a lead.
"None of us like losing," Glover said. "I don't think anybody does. It's human nature. So I think we just need to get the wheels spinning a little bit and get a little momentum. I think we will."
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
After Glover recorded the first two outs in the ninth, pinch-hitter Jose Martinez lined a single, and Matt Carpenter drew a seven-pitch walk to put the winning run on base. However, Glover regrouped and induced a fly out from Yadier Molina to seal the win.
"You've got to recompose and be ready for Yadi," Glover said. "You've got to change your approach. You've got to go back to the scouting reports in your mind and attack him the way you can get him out."

SOUND SMART
The Nats avoided a four-game sweep, and they have still not been swept in four games since May 5-8, 2016, against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
HE SAID IT
"Happy flight. We're going to go back home and build off tonight's win and go after the Marlins." -- Roark, on a positive ending to a tough road trip
"He's got a fire to him, and it's pretty nice to see." -- Miller, on Glover
MITEL REPLAY OF THE DAY
The Cardinals were unsuccessful in their attempt to erase a run by requesting a replay review of Adam Eaton's slide into home ahead of Molina's tag in the fourth on Harper's RBI single. The initial out call was confirmed following a 78-second review.

UP NEXT
Max Scherzer will be on the mound when the Nationals return home to take on the Marlins for the start of a three-game series Friday night at Nationals Park. It's been more than a month since Scherzer suffered a loss, as he's gone 5-0 with a 2.25 ERA and 53 strikeouts in his past seven starts. Dan Straily will start for Miami; first pitch is at 7:05 p.m. ET.