Brendan Donovan delivered a crucial two-run homer as the St. Louis Cardinals secured a 4-2 victory over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night. The game, played in St. Louis, was delayed by rain for over two hours before resuming, with Donovan’s homer proving decisive in breaking the Nationals’ early lead.
Game Overview and Scoring Highlights
The Nationals jumped ahead 2-0 in the third inning, with Jacob Young walking, advancing on a single by CJ Abrams, and scoring on James Wood’s single. Luis Garcia Jr. extended the lead with a run-scoring fielder’s choice grounder. However, the Cardinals responded immediately in their half of the inning, stringing together four straight hits. Victor Scott II started with a leadoff double before Donovan launched his two-run homer to take the lead.
Masyn Winn followed with a single and later scored on a double by Alec Burleson, giving St. Louis a 3-2 edge. Lars Nootbaar added a solo homer in the sixth inning, increasing the Cardinals’ lead to 4-2, which proved to be the final margin.
Pitching Performances and Defensive Plays
Starter Sonny Gray (9-3) was strong for the Cardinals, allowing two runs on five hits over five innings while striking out six and walking one. Washington’s Jake Irvin (7-4) yielded four runs on six hits and four walks in six innings, recording three strikeouts. Relievers Steven Matz, Phil Maton, JoJo Romero, and Ryan Helsley each threw one scoreless inning for St. Louis, with Helsley earning his 18th save of the season.
Gray managed to escape a tough situation in the fourth inning when Josh Bell doubled and Daylen Lile singled with one out, but a double play erased the threat. In the sixth, Matz induced a double-play grounder from Brady House after Luis Garcia Jr. singled and Bell walked. Defensive efforts also included Wood’s remarkable catch over the left-field wall to deny Winn a potential homer in the seventh inning.
Implications and Next Steps for Both Teams
With this win, the Cardinals snapped a losing streak, earning only their second victory in their last seven games, while the Nationals dropped their fourth consecutive contest. The result may boost St. Louis’s morale as they look to improve consistency, while Washington searches for ways to reverse their recent slide. Moving forward, both teams will aim to build on their performances amid a competitive season.
“I think everyone showed resilience tonight, especially after the long rain delay.” —Brendan Donovan, St. Louis Cardinals
“The bullpen did a fantastic job closing it out. Helsley’s experience really made a difference.” —Sonny Gray, Cardinals Starting Pitcher