Cardinals explode for eight runs to take series over Nationals

St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Alec Burleson (41) hits a one run single against the Washington Nationals during the third inning at Busch Stadium. Jeff Curry-Imagn Images

Cardinals' bats wake up, explode for eight runs to take series over Nationals

By Mike J. Asti | Last updated Jul 11, 2025 8:42 AM ET

In the interest of staying alive in the National League playoff picture, the St. Louis Cardinals dominated the Washington Nationals on Thursday to take the series. St. Louis picked up a much-needed series win by beating the Nationals, 8-1.

The often hot-and-cold Cardinals were red hot all day at Busch Stadium. Seven different Cardinals recorded at least one RBI on a day they registered 10 hits as a team.

St. Louis' eight-run performance comes after scoring six runs in the first two games of the series combined — the Cardinals won 4-2 on Tuesday and lost 8-2 on Wednesday.

Prior to Thursday, the Cardinals had only one game in which they put eight or more runs on the scorecard in the month.

As far as what led to the big day, St. Louis used mostly "small ball" to send runners home besides first baseman Willson Contreras' massive home run.

Crushed by Contreras! pic.twitter.com/kRWujzF4Qa
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) July 11, 2025

Second baseman Brendan Donovan and shortstop Masyn Winn both had two hits and an RBI each, right fielder Alec Burleson drove in a pair of runs and third baseman Nolan Arenado, catcher Yohel Pozo and center fielder Victor Scott added one RBI each.

After scoring one in the first and then another in the third, St. Louis exploded for five runs in the sixth.

Masyn Winn makes it a FIVE run frame in the 6th! ️ pic.twitter.com/gdRv0dFkjA
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) July 11, 2025

Contreras then crushed a pitch to put one final nail in Washington's coffin in the seventh. He now has 12 home runs and 52 RBI in 88 games.

In addition to the return of St. Louis' offense, starter Miles Mikolas held off the Nationals for one of his better outings. Mikolas, now 5-6 on the year, pitched a shutout through 5.2 innings and allowed just three base runners off two hits and a walk. He even struck out six, his highest strikeout total in a game since June 22.

The Cardinals are 50-44 and in third place in the National League Central, sitting 5.5 games behind the first-place Cubs. Up next for St. Louis is a three-game set with the Braves and then a west road trip to Arizona and Colorado.

Mike J. Asti

Mike Asti is an experienced media personality and journalist with a vast resume and skillset, most notably from time with TribLIVE Radio and WPXI-TV. Asti now serves as the Managing Editor of WV Sports Now, where he leads the coverage of WVU sports. He has also covered the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and other teams within the Pittsburgh market

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