Nationals score 4 runs in 11th in an 8-5 victory over the Cardinals

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Washington successfully challenged for catcher’s interference with the bases loaded in a four-run 11th inning in the Nationals' 8-5 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday night.

After Washington took the lead on the interference call, Jose Tena had a two-run double and Dylan Crews followed with an RBI sacrifice fly.

J.J. Wetherholt led off the bottom of the 11th with an RBI single, and St. Louis loaded the bases with no outs, but did not score again. Washington reliever Will Dion got the final out for his first career save.

Riley Cornelio (3-2) was the winner. Gordon Graceffo (8-2) took the loss.

The Nationals (73-82) have won six of their last seven following a seven-game losing streak. The Cardinals (75-80) have lost four straight games.

Jorbit Vivas had a career-high four hits and added an RBI and a run for Washington. James Wood had two hits and scored a run. Daylen Lile blasted a two-run home run to center field in the first inning, the 22nd of the season for the 23-year-old left fielder.

Nathan Church led off the bottom of the ninth with an infield hit that bounced off the second base bag for a double. Pedro Pages followed with an RBI single to left, his first RBI since June 18, to tie it at 3.

Vivas hit a two-out RBI single in the 10th inning to give the Nationals a 4-3 lead, only for Mason Wynn to it with an RBI single in the bottom of the inning.

Cardinals LHP Quinn Mathews (2-3, 3.62) was set to face Nationals RHP Jake Irvin (2-9, 5.51) on Sunday in the series finale.

Washington Nationals' Nasim Nuñez runs on an RBI single during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

Washington Nationals' James Wood, left, congratulates Daylen Lile on his two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

Washington Nationals' Daylen Lile celebrates as he runs the bases after hotting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

Washington Nationals starting pitcher Andrew Alvarez throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

Washington Nationals' Dylan Crews catches a fly ball for an out against St. Louis Cardinals' Jordan Walker during the third inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

PHOENIX (AP) — Pavin Smith hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning to lift the Arizona Diamondbacks over the New York Yankees 5-3 on Saturday night, giving the D-backs' slim playoff hopes a boost.

Ildemaro Vargas started the ninth with a walk, winning an ABS challenge on a full-count pitch initially called a strike. After Jordan Lawlar struck out, Smith pinch hit and drove a cutter from Michael Fulmer (0-1) into the right-field seats.

Arizona pulled within four games of Philadelphia for the final NL wild card with seven games remaining, snapping a three-game losing streak on a night the franchise celebrated the 25th anniversary of its 2001 World Series win over the Yankees.

Juan Morillo (1-1) pitched 1 1/3 hitless innings. D-backs right-hander Brandon Pfaadt gave up one run on four hits and a walk over 4 1/3 innings, striking out three.

New York's 11 walk-off losses are one behind San Francisco, which has the most in the major leagues.

New York ace Cam Schlittler gave up three runs — but only one earned — over six innings. The right-hander allowed three hits and three walks, striking out six and lowering his ERA to 1.94.

Schlitter’s 24 starts with one or no earned runs this year is one shy of the record in the live-ball era since 1920, set by Sandy Koufax in 1963, according to Major League Baseball.

The All-Star didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning when Nolan Arenado lined a one-out single into left field. The right-hander then made a costly error on Tim Tawa's sacrifice bunt attempt, dropping the ball as he tried to throw to first. Jordan Lawlar capitalized on the miscue with a two-out triple into the left-center field gap for a 2-1 lead.

Austin Wells and Heliot Ramos hit solo homers off Kevin Ginkel in the sixth to push the Yankees ahead 3-2.

Corbin Carroll hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom half but Schlittler limited damage by striking out Arenado and Tawa to end the threat.

1. Arizona RHP Corbin Burnes (0-0, 5.87 ERA) and Yankees RHP Will Warren (10-6, 3.89) start Sunday.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Yankees fans wait for the ballpark gates to open prior to a baseball game, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Caitlin O'Hara)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Brandon Pfaadt pitches during the third inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Caitlin O'Hara)

New York Yankees Cam Schlittler pitches during the first inning during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Caitlin O'Hara)

New York Yankees José Caballero (72) hits during the third inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Caitlin O'Hara)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Lars Nootbaar hits during the first inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Caitlin O'Hara)