Game result and context
Washington Nationals defeat St. Louis Cardinals 9-1 in 2026 regular season matchup
The Washington Nationals defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 9-1 on September 18, 2026. Washington built an early lead with three runs in the first inning and four in the third, while Cade Cavalli held St. Louis scoreless over five innings to earn the win.
Final result
The Washington Nationals defeated the St. Louis Cardinals with a final score of 9-1. The game lasted nine innings.
Washington scored three runs in the first inning, four in the third, one in the fourth, and one in the sixth. St. Louis scored their lone run in the eighth inning.
How the game changed
Washington established control early by scoring three runs in the opening frame. The lead expanded significantly in the third inning when Dylan Crews hit a two-run home run, contributing to a four-run rally that put the Nationals ahead 7-0.
St. Louis was unable to generate offense against the Washington pitching staff until the bottom of the eighth inning, by which point the Nationals had already secured a commanding lead.
Key performances
Dylan Crews led the Washington offense, finishing with two hits, two runs scored, and two RBI, including his home run in the third inning.
Cade Cavalli earned the win for Washington, pitching 5.0 scoreless innings and striking out six batters. Brad Lord provided relief, pitching 2.0 innings with three strikeouts and no earned runs allowed.
Yohandy Morales contributed two RBI for the Nationals, while CJ Abrams and Brady House each added one RBI to the team's total.
Season and playoff context
Following the game, the Washington Nationals hold a record of 72-82. They are currently fourth in their division and have been eliminated from playoff contention.
The St. Louis Cardinals hold a record of 75-79. They are also fourth in their division and have been eliminated from playoff contention.
This game marked the first contest of a three-game regular season series.