Washington Nationals secure wild 8-5 win over Cardinals in extra innings

The Washington Nationals defeated the St. Louis Cardinals 8-5 in 11 innings on September 19, showcasing both strengths and weaknesses. Andrew Alvarez continued his strong performance, pitching well for six innings and now holding a 2.15 ERA since rejoining the rotation. The Nationals initially led 3-0, but defensive errors allowed the Cardinals to tighten the game in the later innings. After a lack of hustle from James Wood led to his benching, manager Blake Butera emphasized the need for consistent effort from his players. The Nationals aim to build on this win, having triumphed in six of their last seven games.

• 2:40 PMYahoo Sports — The Washington Nationals had a roller coaster of a win last night that showed good and bad