(Reuters) - Carlos Beltran hit two home runs as the defending World Series champion Cardinals overpowered the Washington Nationals 12-4 in St. Louis on Monday to tie their best-of-five National League Division Series at 1-1.

Beaten 3-2 by the top-seeded Nationals in Sunday's opener, the Cardinals took control with a four-run explosion in the second inning when David Freese hit the first double of the series before Beltran homered in the sixth and eighth.

Washington starter Jordan Zimmermann gave up five runs and seven hits over three innings before exiting, while Jaime Garcia allowed just one run and two hits in two innings pitched for St. Louis in front of raucous home fans at Busch Stadium.

The best-of-five series shifts to Washington for Game Three on Wednesday, Game Four on Thursday and, if needed, Game Five on Friday.

(Reporting by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Ian Ransom)