Cards rally in 10th, Walker homers again as St. Louis tops Nationals 7-6

The St. Louis Cardinals edged the Washington Nationals 7-6 in 10 innings on Tuesday night, thanks to a late rally led by Jordan Walker, Nathan Church and Thomas Saggese. Walker continued his hot start to the season with his third home run in four games, while Church and Saggese delivered clutch hits in the decisive frame.

Walker’s 109.1 mph home run to right-center in the third inning gave the Cardinals a 2-0 lead. He followed it with two more home runs in his last three games, including a career-long 459-foot slam on Saturday. The 23-year-old has already belched four home runs in 11 games this season, compared to just six in 111 games in 2025.

The Cardinals trailed 6-4 entering the eighth, but Nathan Church, pinch-running in the sixth, came off the bench and hit a two-run single in the eighth to tie the game. That set the stage for St. Louis’ dramatic 10th-inning comeback, capped by Saggese’s RBI double and JJ Wetherholt’s insurance RBI double of his own.

The Nationals took a 6-4 lead in the bottom of the ninth on a solo home run by Keibert Ruiz, but the Cardinals responded quickly. Starter Jordan Hicks and relievers Genesis Cabrera and Ryan Helsley combined to hold Washington scoreless in the 10th, allowing St. Louis to take home the win.

Jordan Walker is not just a power threat. He’s slashing .300/.364/.650 through 11 games, with two outfield assists and improved defensive reads. Statcast shows he’s barreling the ball more often (25% barrel rate) and swinging less at pitches outside the zone (26.4%) than in 2025. His average bat speed has also increased to 77 mph.

The Cardinals’ offense is showing signs of life, with five comeback wins already this season. JJ Wetherholt, Iván Herrera and Alec Burleson form a solid top of the order, but Walker’s production has vaulted him into the spotlight. For an organization in the early stages of a rebuild, his resurgence is a promising sign.

The win improved St. Louis to 6-5 on the season, while the Nationals fell to 3-8. The Cardinals will look to extend their winning streak when they face the Pirates on Wednesday night at Busch Stadium.