WASHINGTON -- Longing for these kinds of moments while he was out for six-plus weeks with a fractured left forearm, Cardinals designated hitter Willson Contreras let his emotions pour out of him as his game-tying home run sailed over the wall in center in Friday’s ninth inning.

Contreras had a little something for everyone following the clutch homer to tie a game where the Cardinals once trailed by five runs. Contreras excitedly pumped his fist toward a Cardinals fan celebrating along the first-base line, he screamed and gestured toward the Cardinals dugout to try and fire up his teammates and, finally, he cupped his hand to the earflap of his helmet to egg on the Nats fans booing him as he crossed the plate.

After the homer, Nolan Gorman singled in the go-ahead run in the 10th inning, but the Nationals tied it up in the bottom of the frame, so Masyn Winn scored on a passed ball in the 11th inning for the decisive run as the Cardinals beat the Nationals, 7-6.