West Palm Beach, Florida — February 24th, 2026 — Christhian Vaquero’s two-run single was the power behind a five-run eighth inning for the Nationals.

For seven and a half innings, the Nationals and Cardinals combined for just two runs and six hits in a pitchers’ duel. The Nats’ hitters didn’t wake up until the bottom of the eighth. Mason Molina for the Cardinals walked two batters, and it sparked a rally for the Nats. Christhian Vaquero singled to right field to drive in two runs to cap off a five-run eighth inning. Kyle Luckham finished out the top of the ninth to earn the win.

The Nats scored the first run of the game in the bottom of the first inning. Nasim Nunez drew a walk to lead off the game and promptly stole second base. Daylen Lile reached by a fielding error, which allowed Nunez to score. The Nationals’ offense was quiet until the bottom of the eighth inning, and they only recorded one hit in the inning. The Cardinals’ pitchers ’ inability to find the strike zone allowed the Nats to load the bases on multiple occasions. Tyler Bradt for the Cardinals failed to record an out in the inning, walking three batters and recording a wild pitch. Cristhian Vaquero put an emphasis on the inning with a two-run single to extend the Nats’ lead to 6-1.

Cade Cavalli started on the mound for the Nats, tossing two innings of no-hit ball on 24 pitches. He struck out one batter and walked another in a positive first outing of the spring. Newly acquired pitcher Ken Waldichuk followed up on Cavalli with a shaky inning, throwing 28 pitches in a single inning of work. The left-hander walked two and allowed one earned run. Minor Leaguer Bryan Polanco walked two in his lone inning of work in the fourth inning. Cole Henry pitched a clean top of the fifth inning with two strikeouts. Riley Cornelio struck out three across two innings pitched. Kyle Luckham worked the final two innings and struck out two batters.

Nationals pitchers drew just five ground ball outs in today’s game against the Cardinals. It could just be early, but the Nats’ pitchers have been drawing many more fly balls than grounders. It could be the Nats' new pitching coach changing their philosophy, but it will be something to monitor going forward. The Nats outfielders have gotten more defensive work than the infielders. Riley Cornelio committed the lone error in the game for the Nats in the top of the seventh inning, but it didn’t lead to a run scored for the Cardinals.

The bottom of the eighth inning changed the momentum for the Nationals. The Cardinals’ pitching staff walked five batters in the inning and threw one wild pitch. Cayden Wallace walked to draw in Randal Diaz to make the score 2-1, Nats. Jack Rogers drew another walk to score another run to extend the Nats’ lead by another run. A wild pitch by Cardinals’ pitcher Tyler Bradt allowed Leandro Pineda to score. Then, Christhian Vaquero singled to right field to score Jack Rogers and Cayden Wallace to grow the Nats’ lead to 6-1.

Player of the Game: Christhian Vaquero – 1-2, RBI, including a key two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning.

The Washington Nationals take on the New York Yankees tomorrow night at 6:35 EST at George M. Steinbrenner Field in Tampa, Florida. Andrew Alvarez will start on the mound for the Nats, and Ryan Weathers will start for the Yankees. New York is 3-2 to start the spring, while Washington is 4-0-1.