Arenado's walk-off home run lifts Cardinals over Brewers 6-5 after blown 5-0 lead

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Nolan Arenado homered off Trevor Megill in the ninth inning, giving St. Louis a 6-5 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday after the Cardinals wasted a five-run lead.

Ryan Helsley (1-0) entered with a 5-3 advantage but blew a save for the second time in six chances. Isaac Collins singled leading off the ninth and Jackson Chourio, who had four hits and three RBIs, followed with his sixth homer on a first-pitch slider.

Arenado hit his third home run of the season in the bottom half on a 97.8 mph fastball from Megill (0-2).

St. Louis won consecutive games for the first time since April 13-14.

Milwaukee has lost four in a row.

Cardinals starter Sonny Gray allowed three runs, seven hits and three walks in six innings.

Brewers starter Quinn Priester gave up five runs, eight hits and three walks in five innings.

St. Louis built its lead on Pedro Pagés' sacrifice fly in the second, RBI doubles by Lars Nootbaar and Brendan Donovan in the third and an RBI single by Nootbar and run-scoring throwing error by second baseman Brice Turang in in the fourth.

Caleb Durbin and Chourio had RBI doubles in the fifth and Joey Ortiz hit into a run-scoring forceout in the sixth.

Cardinals center fielder Victor Scott II ran 65 feet to make a diving backhand catch to deny Jake Bauers in the fifth inning.

Milwaukee is 1-5 on a 10-game trip.

Milwaukee LHP José Quintana (3-0, 0.96) and St. Louis RHP Erick Fedde (1-2, 3.33) starts Sunday.

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St. Louis Cardinals catcher Pedro Pagés, left, tags out Milwaukee Brewers' Jackson Chourio at home during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 25, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

St. Louis Cardinals' Masyn Winn reacts after hitting a double during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Saturday, April 26, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

Milwaukee Brewers' Brice Turang, right, scores a run ahead of the throw to St. Louis Cardinals' Pedro Pagés during the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 26, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

Milwaukee Brewers' Sal Frelick catches a fly ball hit by St. Louis Cardinals' Nolan Arenado during the fourth inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 26, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

Milwaukee Brewers' Jackson Chourio hits an RBI double during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Saturday, April 26, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

St. Louis Cardinals' Nolan Arenado, right, hits a walkoff solo home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Saturday, April 26, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

St. Louis Cardinals' Nolan Arenado points to the dugout as he runs the bases after hitting a walk-off solo home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Saturday, April 26, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

St. Louis Cardinals' Nolan Arenado, center, runs from teammates as they celebrate after his walkoff solo home run during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Saturday, April 26, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

St. Louis Cardinals' Pedro Pagés (43) and Nolan Gorman dump a cooler of water on Nolan Arenado, left, in celebration of the Cardinals win against Milwaukee Brewers during a baseball game Saturday, April 26, 2025, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of nurses in three hospital systems in New York City went on strike Monday after negotiations through the weekend failed to yield breakthroughs in their contract disputes.

The strike was taking place at The Mount Sinai Hospital and two of its satellite campuses, with picket lines forming. The other affected hospitals are NewYork-Presbyterian and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.

About 15,000 nurses are involved in the strike, according to New York State Nurses Association.

“After months of bargaining, management refused to make meaningful progress on core issues that nurses have been fighting for: safe staffing for patients, healthcare benefits for nurses, and workplace violence protections,” the union said in a statement issued Monday. “Management at the richest hospitals in New York City are threatening to discontinue or radically cut nurses’ health benefits.”

The strike, which comes during a severe flu season, could potentially force the hospitals to transfer patients, cancel procedures or divert ambulances. It could also put a strain on city hospitals not involved in the contract dispute, as patients avoid the medical centers hit by the strike.

The hospitals involved have been hiring temporary nurses to try and fill the labor gap during the walkout, and said in a statement during negotiations that they would “do whatever is necessary to minimize disruptions.” Montefiore posted a message assuring patients that appointments would be kept.

“NYSNA’s leaders continue to double down on their $3.6 billion in reckless demands, including nearly 40% wage increases, and their troubling proposals like demanding that a nurse not be terminated if found to be compromised by drugs or alcohol while on the job," Montefiore spokesperson Joe Solmonese said Monday after the strike had started. "We remain resolute in our commitment to providing safe and seamless care, regardless of how long the strike may last.”

New York-Presbyterian accused the union of staging a strike to “create disruption,” but said in a statement that it has taken steps to ensure patients receive the care they need.

"We’re ready to keep negotiating a fair and reasonable contract that reflects our respect for our nurses and the critical role they play, and also recognizes the challenging realities of today’s healthcare environment,” the statement said.

The work stoppage is occurring at multiple hospitals simultaneously, but each medical center is negotiating with the union independently. Several other hospitals across the city and in its suburbs reached deals in recent days to avert a possible strike.

The nurses’ demands vary by hospital, but the major issues include staffing levels and workplace safety. The union says hospitals have given nurses unmanageable workloads.

Nurses also want better security measures in the workplace, citing incidents like a an incident last week, when a man with a sharp object barricaded himself in a Brooklyn hospital room and was then killed by police.

The union also wants limitations on hospitals’ use of artificial intelligence.

The nonprofit hospitals involved in the negotiations say they’ve been working to improve staffing levels, but say the union’s demands overall are too costly.

Nurses voted to authorize the strike last month.

Both New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani had expressed concern about the possibility of the strike. As the strike deadline neared, Mamdani urged both sides to keep negotiating and reach a deal that “both honors our nurses and keeps our hospitals open.”

“Our nurses kept this city alive through its hardest moments. Their value is not negotiable,” Mamdani said.

State Attorney General Letitia James voiced similar support, saying "nurses put their lives on the line every day to keep New Yorkers healthy. They should never be forced to choose between their own safety, their patients’ well-being, and a fair contract.”

The last major nursing strike in the city was only three years ago, in 2023. That work stoppage, at Mount Sinai and Montefiore, was short, lasting three days. It resulted in a deal raising pay 19% over three years at those hospitals.

It also led to promised staffing improvements, though the union and hospitals now disagree about how much progress has been made, or whether the hospitals are retreating from staffing guarantees.

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Nurses strike outside Mount Sinai West Hospital, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

FILE - A medical worker transports a patient at Mount Sinai Hospital, April 1, 2020, in New York. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)