Cardinals Cruise Past Nationals in Road Finale

Jordan Walker homers again as Alec Burleson drives in 3 runs in 6-1 victory

Apr. 9, 2026 at 5:54am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game, with sharp, overlapping planes of navy, green, and orange conveying the dynamic energy of the sport.The Cardinals' young sluggers continue to power their team's success, as evidenced by the team's decisive road victory over the struggling Nationals.Washington Today

The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Washington Nationals 6-1 in the final game of their road series, powered by another home run from rookie sensation Jordan Walker and a strong offensive performance from Alec Burleson, who had three hits and three RBIs, including two off former teammate Miles Mikolas, who started for the Nats but had an abbreviated outing.

Why it matters

The Cardinals' win helps them maintain their position in the NL Central division race, while the Nationals continue to struggle in what has been a disappointing season so far. Jordan Walker's continued power display is an encouraging sign for the Cardinals' future, and Alec Burleson's big game against his former teammate adds an interesting subplot to the matchup.

The details

Jordan Walker hit his 10th home run of the season to open the scoring for the Cardinals. Alec Burleson then drove in three runs, including two off Mikolas, who was chased early from the game. The Cardinals' pitching staff held the Nationals to just one run, continuing their strong start to the season.

  • The game was played on April 9, 2026.

The players

Jordan Walker

A highly touted rookie outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals who has emerged as a power-hitting threat early in the season.

Alec Burleson

An outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals who had a big game against his former teammate, Miles Mikolas, driving in three runs.

Miles Mikolas

A starting pitcher for the Washington Nationals who had an abbreviated outing against his former team, the St. Louis Cardinals.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“Jordan just continues to impress. He's a special talent and it's been fun to watch him develop this season.”

— Oliver Marmol, Cardinals Manager

“I didn't have my best stuff today, and Burleson made me pay for it. That's baseball - you have to be on your game every time out.”

— Miles Mikolas, Nationals Pitcher

What’s next

The Cardinals will return home to face the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers in a key NL Central matchup, while the Nationals will look to bounce back against the Philadelphia Phillies.

The takeaway

The Cardinals' young core of Walker and Burleson continues to lead the way, as they cruised to a road victory over the struggling Nationals. The team's strong pitching and timely hitting have them positioned well in the NL Central race early in the season.