Paul Goldschmidt’s walk-off homer gives the Cardinals a 4-3 victory over the Nationals

ST. LOUIS — Paul Goldschmidt hit a game-ending home run in the ninth inning and the St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Washington Nationals 4-3 on Sunday, ending a three-game losing streak.

In the ninth inning, Goldschmidt hit a 2-2 sinker off Dylan Floro (3-3) into the left-field stands for his 16th home run of the season and his eighth career walk-off shot. It was the Cardinals’ second walk-off win of the season and their first since Nolan Gorman homered against Arizona on April 22.

John King, Andrew Kittredge and Ryan Helsley (4-2) combined to throw three innings of scoreless relief. Starter Miles Mikolas allowed three runs on seven hits in six innings.

Rookie Washington starter DJ Herz allowed two runs on three hits and struck out eight in five innings.

Willson Contreras hit a home run for the Cardinals on the first pitch he saw from Herz in the first inning, his 13th of the season. It was Contreras’ fifth home run in his last eight games against Washington.

Michael Siani hit an RBI single in the seventh inning that landed off the glove of Nationals shortstop C.J. Abrams, tying the score at 3-3.

James Wood tripled to right in the sixth inning and scored on a Juan Yepez sacrifice fly to right, giving Washington a 3-2 lead.

St. Louis Cardinals’ Paul Goldschmidt rounds the bases after hitting a solo walk-off home run to beat the Washington Nationals 4-3 in a baseball game Sunday, July 28, 2024, in St. Louis. Credit: AP/Jeff Roberson

Lane Thomas drove in Jacob Young’s second double of the game to tie the score at 2-2 in the third inning.

Pedro Pagés hit a triple to right-center field to give St. Louis a 2-0 lead in the second period and extend its 13-game winning streak.

ROSTER CHANGES

Nationals: OF Jesse Winker was traded to the New York Mets for minor league RHP Tyler Stuart. OF Alex Call was recalled from Triple-A Rochester.

Paul Goldschmidt of the St. Louis Cardinals follows a walk-off home run to beat the Washington Nationals 4-3 in a baseball game Sunday, July 28, 2024, in St. Louis. Credit: AP/Jeff Roberson

Cardinals: RHP Kyle Leahy recalled from Triple-A Memphis and RHP Giovanny Gallegos assigned to new assignment.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Cardinals: LHP Steven Matz (lower back injury) will throw up to two innings and 40 pitches when he begins a minor league rehab assignment Thursday.

NEXT ONE

Nationals: LHP Mitchell Parker (5-6, 4.34 ERA) faces Diamondbacks LHP (7-5, 6.11 ERA) in the opener of a three-game series against Arizona on Monday night.

Cardinals: RHP Andre Pallante (4-4, 3.92 ERA) faces RHP Nathan Eovaldi (7-4, 3.31 ERA) in the first game of a three-game series against the visiting Texas Rangers on Monday night.