Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Yadier Molina blasted a three-run homer in the first inning, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat Washington, 6-1, in a game that was delayed over 2 1/2 hours by rain at Nationals Park.

Kyle Lohse (6-2) won his third consecutive start, allowing four hits and a run over five innings.

Ryan Ludwick doubled twice, drove in a run and scored once for the Cardinals, winners in five of their last seven games. However, the victory was tempered by an injury to Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols. He left in the fourth inning due to tightness in his left calf.

Ryan Langerhans drove in the lone run for the Nationals, losers in six of their last eight contests.

Odalis Perez (2-5) was lifted after three innings and suffered the loss, as he was charged with five hits and four runs, but just one earned. He left with tendinitis in his left shoulder after three innings and will miss his next start.

"It still was a long night," Nationals manager Manny Acta said. "It's even longer when you lose."

The Cardinals scored four times in the opening inning, helped by a pair of errors. Brian Barton was hit by a pitch to start the game, and with one out Pujols hit a ball back to Perez. However, second baseman Felipe Lopez dropped the ball at second.

Ludwick followed with a line hit to left field and the ball skipped by Langerhans on the wet grass for a 1-0 lead. After Troy Glaus grounded out, Molina homered to left-center field.

Pujols, along with the rest of the Cardinals and Nationals had to wait out a rain delay of 1 hour, 51 minutes in the top of the fourth inning. Cesar Izturis doubled to start the frame and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt before the rains came.

Pujols, the second batter after the delay, was hit by a pitch from Jesus Colome and was then replaced by pinch-runner Rick Ankiel. The Cardinals then executed a double-steal with Izturis taking home.

"I was really concerned about the time of that first delay," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said. "That was excessive. That should count for two or three wins for Lohse."

Lohse singled in Glaus in the fifth, an inning that featured a 49-minute delay.

Langerhans' groundout plated Jesus Flores in the bottom half of the fifth, but the Nationals failed to mount an offensive attack the rest of the night in the opener of the three-game series.