Bernal, Herrera homer in eighth inning to help Cardinals beat Nationals 5-3

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Iván Herrera hit a pair of home runs, and Leo Bernal also homered as the St. Louis Cardinals scored three runs in the eighth inning to come from behind and beat the Washington Nationals 5-3 on Sunday.

Bernal hit his fifth homer of the season off Yovanny Cruz (0-2) after Erik Tolman walked Jordan Walker with two outs in the eighth inning.

Herrera hit his second homer of the game and 18th of the season to tie the game at 3-all after hitting a solo shot in the first inning.

It was Herrera's third career multi-homer game and second this season after going deep twice on June 13 at Minnesota.

Luis Gastelum (5-3) pitched a scoreless eighth inning for St. Louis, and Riley O’Brien pitched a perfect ninth to earn his National League-leading 38th save.

Cardinals starter Quinn Mathews allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks in a career-high seven innings.

Jake Irvin allowed two runs on three hits and had eight strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings for the Nationals.

Brady House singled to right field to leadoff the sixth inning, and Abrams hit his 37th homer of the season to right field to put Washington ahead 3-2. He has 99 RBIs on the season.

The Nationals had a chance to add on when Daylen Lile hit a double down the right field line, but Jordan Walker delivered a perfect throw to third base to retire Lile on a call that was confirmed after Washington manager Blake Butera challenged.

Nationals: Have not named a starting pitcher when they face Tigers RHP River Ryan who will be making his season debut in Detroit Monday night.

Cardinals: Open a three-game series in Pittsburgh Monday night where RHP Andre Pallante (12-7, 3.70) will face Pirates RHP Jared Jones (4-6, 4.17)

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Washington Nationals' Jacob Young hits a single during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

St. Louis Cardinals' Jordan Walker catches a fly ball for an out against Washington Nationals' Andrés Chaparro during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

Washington Nationals' Brady House (12) congratulates CJ Abrams, right, after Abrams' two-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Quinn Mathews (60) pauses at the back of the mound after giving up a two-run home run to Washington Nationals' CJ Abrams during the sixth inning of a baseball game Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Scott Kane)

MIAMI (AP) — A new tropical storm formed Sunday in the northern Atlantic Ocean but does not appear to pose a threat to land.

Tropical Storm Fay had maximum sustained winds of 65 mph (100 kph) and was located late Sunday about 405 miles (650 kilometers) southwest of the Azores. There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Fay will likely dissipate by the end of the week.

Separately, Tropical Storm Odalys has formed southwest of Mexico's west coast and is expected to strengthen into a hurricane in the next day or so.

The hurricane center said the storm's center was becoming better organized and was about 1,345 miles (2,160 kilometers) west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California, with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph (85 kph). It was moving west-northwest at 10 mph (17 kph).

There are no coastal watches or warnings in effect for either tropical storm.

Fay's maximum sustained winds were clocked at 45 mph (75 kph) at 5 a.m. EDT. Additional strengthening is expected in the short term. It was moving north-northeast at 5 mph (7 kph). The Azores are an autonomous region of Portugal about 800 miles (1,287 kilometers) off the coast of mainland Portugal.

This satellite image from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows Tropical Storm Fay, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (NOAA via AP)

This satellite image from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration shows Tropical Storm Odalys, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (NOAA via AP)