Washington Nationals Rally Late to Defeat Cardinals 9-6

St. Louis bullpen struggles as Washington scores 6 runs in the 8th inning

Apr. 7, 2026 at 5:26pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting a baseball game, with sharp planes of color representing the players and action on the field.A cubist interpretation of the late-inning drama as the Nationals rallied to defeat the Cardinals' bullpen.Washington Today

The St. Louis Cardinals bullpen allowed six runs in the eighth inning, unable to hold onto a late lead as the Cardinals fell to the Washington Nationals 9-6 on Monday, April 6 in Washington, D.C. The Nationals rallied with a three-run homer by James Wood and a go-ahead two-run shot by Brady House to overcome the Cardinals' eighth-inning comeback.

Why it matters

The loss drops the Cardinals to 5-5 on the season, as their bullpen struggles continue to be an issue. The Nationals, meanwhile, improve to 6-4 and show their ability to mount late-game comebacks against tough opponents.

The details

The Cardinals took an early lead with RBIs from Alec Burleson and Ramón Urías, but the Nationals tied it up in the sixth inning. In the eighth, the Cardinals regained the lead on a solo homer by Jordan Walker and RBIs from Urías and Victor Scott II, but the Nationals rallied against the Cardinals' bullpen, with James Wood, Brady House, and CJ Abrams all hitting home runs to give Washington the victory.

  • The game was played on Monday, April 6, 2026.
  • The Cardinals and Nationals will face off again on Tuesday, April 7 at 5:45 p.m.

The players

Andre Pallante

The Cardinals starting pitcher, who went 5 innings and allowed 3 hits and 4 walks while striking out 2.

Ramón Urías

The Cardinals infielder, who hit a 2-run homer in the 6th inning to give St. Louis the lead.

James Wood

The Nationals outfielder, who hit a game-tying 3-run homer in the 8th inning to spark Washington's comeback.

Brady House

The Nationals infielder, who hit the go-ahead 2-run homer in the 8th inning to give Washington the lead.

Matt Svanson

The Cardinals reliever, who took the loss after allowing 3 runs on 3 hits in the 8th inning.

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What they’re saying

“We just couldn't hold onto the lead in the eighth. Our bullpen has to be better in those situations.”

— Oliver Marmol, Cardinals Manager

“I'm proud of the way our guys battled back. Showing that fight and resilience is huge for us this early in the season.”

— Dave Martinez, Nationals Manager

What’s next

The Cardinals will look to bounce back on Tuesday, April 7 when they send Matthew Liberatore to the mound against the Nationals' Cade Cavalli.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the Cardinals' ongoing bullpen struggles, an issue that has plagued them early in the season. The Nationals, on the other hand, showed their ability to mount late comebacks, a valuable trait for any playoff contender.