Late rallies lift Cardinals to 10-inning win over Nationals

Field Level Media|published: Tue 7th April, 22:37 2026

Apr 7, 2026; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Nationals shortstop Nasim Nunez (26) dives back to first base in front of St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Alec Burleson (41) during a pick off attempt during the second inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images

Thomas Saggese and JJ Wetherholt hit run-scoring doubles in the 10th inning and the visiting St. Louis Cardinals beat the Washington Nationals 7-6 on Tuesday night.

Saggese led off with a double off Cole Henry (0-2) to score automatic runner Masyn Winn with the go-ahead run. Saggese went to third on a groundout, and after Nathan Church struck out, Wetherholt doubled to right, scoring Saggese to make it 7-5.

Jorbit Vivas was hit by a pitch leading off the bottom of the 10th, and Washington later scored a run on a wild pitch, but Riley O'Brien struck out Nasim Nunez to end it for his third save.

Jordan Walker homered for the second straight night and Church also went deep for the Cardinals. Nolan Gorman had three hits.

George Soriano (1-0) fanned three in two perfect innings for the win.

James Wood homered for the third straight game for Washington, and Curtis Mead had three hits, including a home run.

St. Louis has won two of the past three games while Washington took its sixth loss in the past seven contests.

With St. Louis trailing 5-3, Winn led off the eighth with a walk against Gus Varland. Two outs later, Church snapped an 0-for-22 skid with a game-tying home run.

Wetherholt walked against Cade Cavalli leading off the game, then stole second and went to third on a single by Alec Burleson. Walker hit a potential inning-ending double-play grounder, but shortstop CJ Abrams misplayed it and a run scored. Gorman singled home Burleson to make it 2-0.

Wood opened the Washington first with a single, and with one out, Brady House and Daylin Lile hit back-to-back singles to score him.

Wood led off the third with a homer to left-center to tie it 2-2.

Mead went deep with one out in the fifth to give Washington the lead. With two outs, Lile walked, went to third on Joey Wiemer's single and scored when Abrams singled to right.

Wood walked with two outs in the sixth, stole second and scored on a Mead single to make it 5-2.

Walker homered in the seventh to pull St. Louis within 5-3.

Cavalli gave up two runs, one earned, on four hits in 4 2/3 innings. He walked four and struck out three. St. Louis starter Matthew Liberatore allowed four runs on nine hits over four innings. He fanned six and walked two.

--Field Level Media

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