JUPITER, Fla. (CBS12) — The 2026 Spring Training season is officially underway across our area, and if Saturday was any indication, baseball is back. Fans packed Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, soaking up the sunshine and the first taste of spring baseball as the Washington Nationals faced off against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Matthew Liberatore got the start for St. Louis and looked sharp early. The left-hander struck out a batter in the second inning, then added two more punchouts to close out the frame.

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The Cardinals gave him some early support in the bottom half of the inning when 25-year-old Nathan Church launched a solo home run to put St. Louis on the board first. But Washington answered right back.

Trey Lipscomb ripped a ball down the third-base line, driving in the tying run and swinging the momentum. The Nationals kept it rolling from there, adding five more runs and pulling away for a 6-2 win over the Cardinals.