Ryan Ludwick homered in the bottom of the eighth inning to break a 2-2 tie and send the St. Louis Cardinals to a 3-2 victory over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday.

Felipe Lopez had a two-run homer in the third inning and Chris Carpenter turned in a solid start as St. Louis swept the brief two-game series.

After watching the Nationals tie the score in the top of the eighth, the Cardinals looked to be in business with a lead-off walk from Nick Stavinoha.

But Brendan Ryan entered as a pinch runner and was promptly picked-off before Ludwick belted a solo shot to left off reliever Tyler Clippard (7-3).

Carpenter (5-1) scattered nine hits over eight innings, allowing two runs -- one earned -- while striking out five and walking none.

Ryan Franklin worked a perfect ninth for his ninth save of the season.

Wil Nieves belted his first homer of the season in the fifth inning before the Nationals evened things up in the eighth when Ian Desmond singled to center to score Ryan Zimmerman.

Cristian Guzman had three hits for Washington, who have dropped five in a row.