Photos: ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals beat the Washington Nationals 4-2 in first of three
Sonny Gray threw for fewer innings than normal but the ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals edged the Washington Nationals 4-2 in their return to Busch Stadium in the first of three games in a bid to stabilize their pitching and reignite their offense.
×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals batter Lars Nootbaar is congratulated by teammate Pedro Pages on Tuesday July 8, 2025, after hitting a home run the sixth inning of a game against the Washington Nationals at Busch Stadium in ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´.
×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals pitcher JoJo Romero throws on Tuesday July 8, 2025, in the eighth inning of a game against the Washington Nationals at Busch Stadium in ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´.
×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals batter Brendan Donovan is congratulated by teammate Victor Scott II on Tuesday July 8, 2025, after hitting a two-run homer in the third inning of a game against the Washington Nationals at Busch Stadium in ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´.
×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals pitcher Sonny Gray throws on Tuesday July 8, 2025, in the fourth inning of a game against the Washington Nationals at Busch Stadium in ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´.
×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals pitcher Steven Matz throws on Tuesday July 8, 2025, in the fifth inning of a game against the Washington Nationals at Busch Stadium in ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´.
×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals batter Lars Nootbaar rounds the bases as Washington Nationals pitcher Jake Irvin and infielder Brady House recover on Tuesday July 8, 2025, in the sixth inning of a game at Busch Stadium in ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´.
×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals pitcher Sonny Gray leaves the field after finishing the top of the fifth inning on Tuesday July 8, 2025, in a game against the Washington Nationals at Busch Stadium in ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´.
×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals batter Brendan Donovan rounds the bases on Tuesday July 8, 2025, after hitting a two-run homer in the third inning of a game against the Washington Nationals at Busch Stadium in ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´.
×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals batter Brendan Donovan is congratulated by teammate Victor Scott II on Tuesday July 8, 2025, after hitting a two-run homer in the third inning of a game against the Washington Nationals at Busch Stadium in ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´.
St Louis Cardinals infielder Thomas Saggese makes a tag Washington Nationals runner James Wood on Tuesday July 8, 2025, in the third inning of a game at Busch Stadium in ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´.
St Louis Cardinals infielder Thomas Saggese fields a ground ball on Tuesday July 8, 2025, in the second inning of a game against the Washington Nationals at Busch Stadium in ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´.
×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals pitcher Sonny Gray throws on Tuesday July 8, 2025, in the first inning of a game against the Washington Nationals at Busch Stadium in ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´.
Washington Nationals interim manager Miguel Cairo greets umpires on Tuesday July 8, 2025, at the lineup exchange before a game against the ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals at Busch Stadium in ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´.
St Louis Cardinals pitcher Sonny Gray throws on Tuesday July 8, 2025, in the second inning of a game against the Washington Nationals at Busch Stadium in ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´.
×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals infielder Thomas Saggese lets a ground ball get by on Tuesday July 8, 2025, in the second inning of a game against the Washington Nationals at Busch Stadium in ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´.
×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals infielder Thomas Saggese fields a ground ball on Tuesday July 8, 2025, in the second inning of a game against the Washington Nationals at Busch Stadium in ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´.
×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals batter Nolan Gorman returns to the dugout after striking out on Tuesday July 8, 2025, as Washington Nationals catcher Riley Adams throws away at Busch Stadium in ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´.
×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals pitcher Ryan Helsley watches a ball hit high on Tuesday July 8, 2025, in the ninth inning of a game against the Washington Nationals at Busch Stadium in ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´.
×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals outfielder Victor Scott II pulls in a ball hit high on Tuesday July 8, 2025, in the ninth inning of a game against the Washington Nationals at Busch Stadium in ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´.
×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals Brendan Donovan and teammated Nolan Gorman celebrate a 4-2 win on Tuesday July 8, 2025, against the Washington Nationals at Busch Stadium in ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´.
×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´ Cardinals Brendan Donovan and Lars Nootbaar celebrate a 4-2 win on Tuesday July 8, 2025, against the Washington Nationals at Busch Stadium in ×îÐÂÐÓ°ÉÔ´´.
Christian Gooden | Post-Dispatch
Photographer
After waiting out a 139-minute rain delay, the Cardinals came away with a 4-2 win over the Nationals to open a three-game series at Busch Stadium.
Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado was absent from the starting lineup on Tuesday vs. the Nationals as he deals with a right shoulder impingement.