Cardinals win 8 in a row, complete back to back sweeps of the Pirates and Nationals and win their first series on the road
Well doesn’t that feel good. The first series win on the road of the season! Back to back sweeps! It feels on an emotional that it has been all too often that the Cardinals do not pad their wins total by occasionally sweeping bad teams. And hell, it’s a long season, there are times where it feels like they have trouble even taking 2 of 3 vs bad teams.
The Cardinals took it to the Nationals and outscored Washington, D.C. 20-3 this weekend. Erick Fedde pitched a complete game shutout, the Cardinals proved they can still win close games and won 4-2 on Saturday, and today on Mother’s Day the Cardinals belted three home runs in a seriously decisive 6-1 win.
Once the Cardinals proved they could win 2 games in a row vs a team as good as the 2025 New York Mets, the Cardinals have been flying high. Today was no exception.
Top 1st
First Pitch, 1:35 PM EDT, Nationals Park
Lars Nootbaar greets the game with clarity and power, sending his sixth home run arcing into the right field sky. The Cardinals take an early lead—STL 1, WSH 0. The moment is brief, like the opening bell of meditation, but its echo lingers.
Masyn Winn lines out to left, one away. Brendan Donovan, patient, draws a walk. But the inning yields to fate: Nolan Arenado grounds into a double play, the rhythm of the infield turning opportunity into stillness. The side retires.
Bottom 1st
CJ Abrams flows with the pitch and singles to right. Alex Call, resisting but overpowered, strikes out on a foul tip—one out. The game’s current quickens: James Wood grounds into a double play, Arenado to Winn to Contreras, as if the field itself has closed a circle. Three outs.
Top 2nd
Willson Contreras, unwavering, launches a solo shot to center—his sixth. The lead grows slowly but surely, STL 2, WSH 0. Herrera lines out to right, Pozo pops out to first, Walker grounds out short to first. The inning dissolves, each out a gentle exhale.
Bottom 2nd
Nathaniel Lowe sends a foul pop to Contreras at first—one away. Josh Bell doubles sharply to right, a flash of intent. But Garcia Jr. flies out to second, and Crews is retired, third to first. Aspiration meets calm resolve; three outs.
Top 3rd
Victor Scott II is struck out on a foul tip—MacKenzie Gore’s focus is sharp. Nootbaar walks, seeking another path, but Winn strikes out swinging—two gone. Nootbaar’s ambition to steal is caught, Adams to Abrams, ending the frame with swift finality.
Bottom 3rd
Tena grounds out, Adams strikes out on a foul tip, and Abrams flies out to right. There is effort, but no reward—three outs, like stones skipping to stillness.
Top 4th
Donovan grounds out, Garcia Jr. to Lowe. Arenado lines out to Call in right, who makes a diving catch—grace in motion. Contreras singles to left, but Herrera can’t extend, striking out swinging. Three outs, the tide returns.
Bottom 4th
Call strikes out swinging—one down. Wood grounds out, second to first. Nathaniel Lowe, undaunted, homers to left center—his seventh. The deficit narrows, STL 2, WSH 1. Bell strikes out; the fleeting triumph fades into quiet.
Top 5th
Pozo lines out to center. Walker and Scott II each fall on swinging strikeouts. The inning is clean, like a well-drawn breath.
Bottom 5th
Garcia Jr. grounds out to Donovan, whose diving stop is a moment of harmony. Crews pops out to second. Tena walks, but Adams strikes out swinging. Hope, denied at the threshold.
Top 6th
Nootbaar flies out to center, Winn strikes out, Donovan grounds out as Garcia Jr. spins and throws. The Cardinals remain composed, the score unchanged.
Bottom 6th
Abrams singles to left. Call lays down a sacrifice bunt, Abrams to second. Pitching change: Steven Matz replaces Mikolas. Wood flies out to left. Lowe is called out on strikes—three outs, the opportunity extinguished.
Top 7th
Arenado doubles, sharp to left. Contreras is called out on strikes—one away. Herrera walks, and Pozo singles to center, driving home Arenado—STL 3, WSH 1. Walker flies out to center, pitching change: Andrew Chafin replaces Gore. Scott II singles, Herrera scores, Pozo to third—STL 4, WSH 1. Scott II, calm and consistent, extends his streak. Nootbaar strikes out swinging—three outs.
Bottom 7th
Bell flies out to right, Garcia Jr. lines out to center, Crews grounds out short to first. The Nationals chase, but the Cardinals hold the line.
Top 8th
Pitching change: Brad Lord replaces Chafin. Winn walks. Donovan strikes out swinging. Arenado, with poise, homers to left center—two runs score, STL 6, WSH 1! Contreras strikes out swinging. Herrera and Pozo single, but Walker grounds out to short—three outs.
Bottom 8th
Pitching change: Phil Maton replaces Matz. Tena walks, but Adams strikes out swinging. Abrams singles to left, Tena to second. Call lines into an unassisted double play—Donovan, alert, ends the inning with quiet authority.
Top 9th
Pitching change: Zach Brzykcy replaces Lord. Scott II grounds out, Nootbaar lines out to center—Dylan Crews dives, the moment suspended in midair. Winn walks, but Donovan flies out to center. The Cardinals remain serene, up by 5.
Bottom 9th
Pitching change: John King replaces Maton. Wood grounds out short to first. Lowe grounds out, third to first. Bell strikes out swinging—three outs, the game complete.
On this quiet afternoon, the Cardinals move like water, forceful but controlled, each triumph met with restraint. In the end, their energy flows forward, unbroken with 8 wins in a row.
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- Lars Nootbaar set the tone early with a leadoff home run! 1 RBI
- Nolan Arenado 2-4 with a home run, 2 RBI and 2 runs scored
- Willson Contreras 2-4 with a home run, 1 RBI and a run scored
- Yohel Pozo 2-4, 1 RBI
- Masyn Winn 2 BB
- Matz and Mikolas were the win probability players of the game
- Mikolas has actually been a good pitcher his last 4 starts: over his last four starts, Miles Mikolas has an. That is not bad!
- Steven Matz is a 1.35 ERA pitcher so far this year and has handled any role thrown at him quite well, with him around a whole win above replacement level in 26 2⁄3 IP
- Speaking of good pitchers Phil Maton provided some relief today and is a 3.38 ERA and 1.87 FIP pitcher after today’s performance
- Yohel Pozo is an over .800 OPS catcher this year so far
The Cardinals up the ante tomorrow with the 23-16 Phillies. The challenge rises to keep the winning streak going but the Phillies are not better than us. In fact they’re a lot like the Cardinals and play better at home. Their run differential is about the same. They are in second place to a really good team. Where the teams differ: the positional players of the Cardinals are much better defenders, and better hitters. The Phillies run the basepaths better, and are a premium pitching team. The Cardinals are pretty mediocre so far, pitching-wise. The Phillies have obviously concentrated more on their rotation.
Game starts 5:45 CST Monday night!
