Lars Nootbaar delivered the decisive blow for the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday, hitting his first home run of the 2026 season in a 6-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Busch Stadium.
Nootbaar was not expected to play as he continued his return from offseason double heel surgery. With the Cardinals trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the eighth inning, he entered as a pinch-hitter and drove a 433-foot blast against reliever Sam Moll to give St. Louis a 6-5 lead. Manager Oliver Marmol praised the left-handed swing. “Dude can hit, man. That was a big swing there, left on left, to do what we did,” Marmol said. The homer prompted a curtain call from the Busch Stadium crowd chanting “Nooooots.” Nootbaar described the moment after the game. “I didn’t really hear it,” he said of the cheers. “Usually, when I’m doing something well, I have a pretty good understanding that they’re Noots instead of boos.” Closer Riley O’Brien preserved the win despite allowing baserunners in the ninth, as rookie Sal Stewart grounded out to end the game. The victory marked the Cardinals’ second straight over the Reds.