ST. LOUIS — Miles Mikolas’ second pitch of the game was a fastball down the middle, which Washington Nationals leadoff hitter CJ Abrams pummeled for a double. Quickly, Mikolas snapped into focus. “I can’t be doing this again,” he muttered to himself.

Miles Mikolas pitched two-hit ball into the sixth inning, helping the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Washington Nationals 8-1.