Washington Nationals 8–5 St. Louis Cardinals: match recap

Match recap

Daylen Lile's two-run homer in the top of the first was all the offense Washington needed, as Andrew Alvarez and the Nationals' bullpen shut out the Cardinals 2-0. A crisp defensive play in the fourth and a key strikeout in the sixth preserved the lead against a St. Louis lineup that mustered three hits but couldn't string together a rally.

The game was decided in a single swing: Daylen Lile launched a two-run home run off Michael McGreevy in the first inning, giving the Nationals a lead they never relinquished. McGreevy was lifted after just two innings, having allowed four hits and two earned runs, while Washington starter Andrew Alvarez worked around three hits and a walk over his one-inning stint — the bullpen followed with scoreless relief, striking out four over the final two frames. St. Louis had chances, putting two runners on in the second and one in the fifth, but couldn't deliver the key hit; a sharp groundout by Masyn Winn with the bases loaded in the second ended their best threat.

Key factors

• Daylen Lile's first-inning two-run homer supplied all the offense Washington needed, creating an early deficit St. Louis could not overcome.
• The Cardinals' lineup managed only three hits and left four runners on base, failing to capitalize on the lone walk they drew.
• Washington's bullpen and defense held firm, with Alvarez striking out two in his brief start and the defense turning a key double play in the fourth.