CaliSports News

Recap: Padres 6, Nationals 5

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Justin Upton slugged two home runs, and the San Diego Padres held off the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night, winning 6-5 at Nationals Park in Washington, DC.

The Padres opened up the game with the first scoring of the night, putting up four runs in the top of the third inning. Matt Kemp slugged a two-run double to open the scoring off Nationals’ starter Gio Gonzalez, and then Upton slugged his first of two home runs to score Kemp.

The Padres tacked on another run in the top of the fourth, when Yangervis Solarte hit a sacrifice fly, to give starter Tyson Ross a five-run lead very early.

The Nationals tacked on a run in the bottom of the fourth off Ross, on an RBI groundout by Ryan Zimmerman, that made the game 5-1. In the bottom of the sixth, Zimmerman would strike again — this time, on a sacrifice fly — to make the game 5-2.

But immediately after in the top of the seventh, Justin Upton hit a solo shot (his second home run of the night) to make the game 6-2 and give the Padres what would eventually be their game-winning run.

Upton’s second home run was so important because in the bottom of the seventh inning, thanks to a bases loaded jam that resulted in Friars’ relievers walking in a run, and then Bryce Harper hitting a two-run single to make the game 6-5.

Fortunately for the Padres, that was as close as the Nats would get, though. Joaquin Benoit threw a perfect bottom of the eighth inning, and then Craig Kimbrel earned his 36th save in a perfect bottom of the ninth to win the game 6-5 for San Diego.

The Padres are now 62-64, and still trying to climb back into contention in the National League West. They’ll finish their series in Washington on Thursday afternoon at 4pm PT before heading to Philadelphia for three games over the weekend.

Stay with us at Calisportsnews.com as we will keep you up-to-date on all things San Diego Padres and the rest of the SoCal sports teams! All Cali, All the time!

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