The St. Louis Cardinals dropped a lopsided 9-1 decision to the Washington Nationals at Busch Stadium on Friday, September 18, 2026, getting thoroughly outpitched and outplayed in a game that was never really close. Starter Kyle Leahy lasted just three innings, surrendering six earned runs on five hits and three walks, and the Cardinals' offense could muster only a single run against Washington's pitching staff. Dylan Crews led the Nationals' charge with a home run and two RBI, while Cade Cavalli was nearly untouchable through five innings. This one stings — no other way to put it.

Cardinals Pitching Collapses Early, Offense Goes Quiet

Leahy simply didn't have it Friday night. The right-hander walked three batters, surrendered five hits, and allowed six earned runs across three innings of work, giving the Nationals all the cushion they'd need before the game was even halfway done. It was the kind of outing that puts a bullpen in a tough spot from the jump.

Cooper Hjerpe came on in relief and gave the Cardinals something to feel slightly better about, tossing four innings while allowing just two earned runs on two hits with three strikeouts. Cade Winquest closed out the final two frames with a clean showing — two scoreless innings, two strikeouts, and no hits allowed — but the damage was long done by then.

On the offensive side, the Cardinals managed just one run against a Washington staff that was sharp all night. Leo Bernal was the lone bright spot at the plate, going 3-for-4, but his hits didn't translate to runs. The lineup as a whole couldn't string anything together when it mattered.

Cade Cavalli Shuts Down Cardinals Lineup Over Five Innings

Washington's Cade Cavalli was the story on the mound. The right-hander worked five innings, striking out six Cardinals hitters without issuing a single walk and allowing just four hits. He didn't give St. Louis a thing to work with, and his zero-run outing set the tone for everything that followed. Brad Lord added two more scoreless innings behind him with three more strikeouts, and the Nationals' bullpen did its job the rest of the way.

Dylan Crews Powers Washington Offense

While the Cardinals' bats went cold, Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews did real damage. He went 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBI, providing Washington with the kind of impact hitting that St. Louis simply couldn't match on Friday night. The Nationals scored nine runs across the game, an eight-run margin that tells you everything about how this one played out.

Turning Point

The game effectively ended before it began. Leahy's inability to navigate the Nationals' lineup in the early innings put the Cardinals in an 6-run hole that this offense couldn't climb out of. When your starter exits after three innings with six earned runs already on the board, you're playing for pride the rest of the night.

Key Performances

  • Leo Bernal: 3-for-4 — the only Cardinal to do any consistent damage at the plate
  • Kyle Leahy (L): 3.0 IP, 5 H, 6 ER, 3 BB, 1 K — a rough night that put the bullpen in an immediate hole
  • Cooper Hjerpe: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K — steady relief work in a lost cause
  • Cade Winquest: 2.0 IP, 0 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 2 K — clean finish to an otherwise ugly evening
  • Dylan Crews (WSH): 2-for-5, 1 HR, 2 RBI — led Washington's offensive effort
  • Cade Cavalli (WSH, W): 5.0 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 6 K — dominant performance against the Cardinals lineup

What's Next for the Cardinals

The Cardinals will look to bounce back quickly as the series with Washington continues. Getting back on the right side of things starts with better starting pitching and an offense that can put pressure on opposing starters before the game slips away. Friday was a night to flush — the focus turns to the next game.