Washington, DC (Sports Network) - Elijah Dukes hit his first homer as a member of the Nationals, a dramatic two-run shot in the bottom of the 10th inning, as Washington earned a 10-9 win over St. Louis in the back end of a doubleheader.

Struggling with a .148 average entering Thursday, Dukes had four hits, four RBI and scored three times in the nightcap as the Nationals snapped a four- game skid.

"I know I'm a better player than I've shown," Dukes said. "On this team, we expect everyone to make plays. For me, defense is not enough. I know I can produce, and tonight I did."

In the day game, Todd Wellemeyer tossed six shutout innings, and Albert Pujols hit the first pinch-hit home run of his career in St. Louis' 4-1 win.

The Nationals held a 7-0 lead in the second game, but the Cardinals rallied, thanks mostly to a two-run double from starting pitcher Mike Parisi and a three-run homer from reliever Mark Worrell.

The Cardinals tied the game in the ninth on an RBI triple from Skip Schumaker followed by a run-scoring single from Aaron Miles. They then went ahead in the 10th on Joe Mather's first major league homer, a shot to left off Brian Sanches (2-0).

In the bottom half, Cristian Guzman singled to center and Dukes followed with a blast over the wall in center off Ryan Franklin (2-2).

Guzman had four hits with an RBI and scored three times, while Aaron Boone and Kory Castro both drove in two runs for Washington. After scoring just two runs over their previous four contests, the Nationals finally broke out offensively with 16 hits and posted their largest run-output since beating the New York Mets, 10-4, on the road May 12.

The Cardinals, who totaled 13 hits, lost for just the third time in nine games.

"I'm thrilled by this team," Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said despite the loss. "To put that kind of effort when you're down like that in the second game of a DH, that tells you everything you need to know about this team. We had Schumaker and Miles get big hits with two outs in the ninth. Our pitchers had five RBI. You can't ask for more than that."

Ahead 8-6 going to the ninth, Jon Rauch started the inning on the mound for the Nationals. He had retired a career-best 19 straight batters until allowing Brendan Ryan's pinch-hit double with one out in the frame. Pujols then pinch hit, but was called out on strikes on a pitch that painted the outside corner. Schumaker then barely missed tying the game, hitting a ball that caromed off the top of the wall in center for an RBI triple. Miles followed with a roller up the middle that shortstop Guzman couldn't get to, as Schumaker scored the tying run.

Parisi gave up 10 hits and eight runs -- five earned -- in four innings, while Nationals starter Tim Redding was lifted after surrendering nine hits and six runs in 5 2/3 frames.

Dukes tripled in Guzman in the opening inning and then scored on a Boone sacrifice fly. Boone's RBI single scored Dukes in the second, and Castro followed with a two-run double. It became 7-0 the next inning when Guzman stroked an RBI double then scored on Dukes' single to right.

Troy Glaus homered with two outs in the fourth, and Mather and Jason LaRue followed with singles. Parisi then had his first major league hit, a two-run double over Duke's head in right.

Ryan Langerhans singled in a run in the bottom half, but the Cardinals struck back to get within 8-3 in the sixth thanks to Worrell's first major league hit.