Skip to main content
Come Fan with UsSaturday, June 20, 2026

Cardinals vs. Nationals, NLDS Game 5: Fans ready for anything after miracle comeback

The St. Louis Cardinals pulled off the comeback of comebacks Friday night they went down 6-0 to the Washington Nationals early and rallied to win 9-7, scoring four runs in the ninth inning to advance to the National League Championship Series.

Comebacks and improbable wins have become the defending World Series champs’ story the last two seasons. It’s the reason that Dan Moore of Viva El Birdos writes he’s prepared for any outcome in the NLCS.

If they lose in the NLCS, I think, so be it. For the second year in a row they were brought up on charges of regular season indifference, of playing the wrong way, of underachieving relative to the pace they’d set before. For the second year in a row they’ve turned in, by way of a defense, a comeback so ridiculous as to act as a parody of the genre.

I’m old enough to remember when the Cardinals didn’t win every single postseason series as though they were reenacting the final 20 minutes of a Mighty Ducks movie. Having gotten one more I’m sated, and ready to so-be-it a loss if it comes to that. Of course, I’m also a little greedy.

The Cardinals move on to their next challenge, where they face a San Francisco Giants team that had their own amazing comeback, winning three straight elimination games against the Cincinnati Reds. The NLCS starts Sunday at 7 p.m. CT from AT&T Park in San Francisco.

See More:

More in General

GeneralFromPosting and Toasting
An SB Nation New Yorker needs our helpAn SB Nation New Yorker needs our help
GeneralFromPosting and Toasting
General
Sabastian Sawe breaks 2-hour barrier, shatters marathon world recordSabastian Sawe breaks 2-hour barrier, shatters marathon world record
General

The mythical two-hour mark was broken at the London Marathon.

By Bernd Buchmasser
A Huge Dog
THE HISTORY OF CHARGING THE MOUND, EPISODE 1THE HISTORY OF CHARGING THE MOUND, EPISODE 1
Play
General
Super Bowl 60 coin toss resultsSuper Bowl 60 coin toss results
General

The Seahawks and Patriots will open the Super Bowl with the coin toss to determine who starts with the ball. We have the full coin toss results for Super Bowl 60.

By David Fucillo
General
Marc Marquez completes a comeback for the agesMarc Marquez completes a comeback for the ages
General

MotoGP’s Marc Marquez completed a comeback for the ages with his 2025 title

By Mark Schofield
General
How to make sure SBNation.com appears in your Google search resultsHow to make sure SBNation.com appears in your Google search results