SAN FRANCISCO — Cardinals closer Jason Motte has no perfect answer for how St. Louis found a way to win at Washington after trailing, 6-0, and get back to the National League Championship Series.

‘‘These guys just prove what big hearts they have and how much they go out there and work their butts off,’’ said Motte, Friday night’s winning pitcher. ‘‘Someone asked me [Friday] night how we keep doing it, and I said, ‘I don’t know, maybe we’re just stubborn. We just don’t give up.’ That’s kind of how you have to be.’’